Date: Tue, 05 Mar 96 13:42:27 GMT
From: KColeman@acorn.co.uk
To: Acorn-all
Subject: FYI: US and UK investors take increased stake in the Group


USA and UK based investors take increased stake in 
Acorn Computer Group plc


5th March 1996, 
Cambridge, England.

Following the announcement to the stock exchange last week
that Olivetti SpA ("Olivetti") had reduced its shareholding
in the Acorn Computer Group plc ("Acorn") from 58.9% to
48.4%, Acorn announces that the percentage of its share
capital held by institutional investors has further
expanded.

Hermann Hauser, a co-founder of Acorn in 1978 and a
non-executive director, has sold 1,600,000 shares and now
holds 3,222,785 shares representing 3.6 per cent. of the
issued share capital of Acorn.  Olivetti Telemedia
Investments BV, a wholly owned subsidiary of Olivetti, has
sold a further 2,150,000 of the issued shares and now owns
41,348,462 shares representing 45.9 per cent. of the issued
share capital of Acorn.

Marco De Benedetti, managing director of Olivetti Telemedia
and a non-executive director of Acorn, said In recent
months Acorn has been forging new and international
alliances with global technology companies such as Oracle
and Apple and these developments have aroused interest in
Acorn shares from institutional investors both in the UK and
internationally.   In this context I believe it is
appropriate and in the interests of both Olivetti and Acorn
for Olivetti to reduce its holding to below 50 per cent.,
while remaining a committed long term shareholder and
supporter of the company."

Acorn welcomes the move to widen the base of investors and
is pleased that both US and UK investment companies are
taking stakes in a UK organisation with excellent technology
skills and an exciting future. 

This is a shareholder matter and Acorn will not be making
any further comments at this time.

ENDS