19 Jan 2007 16:23
19 January 2007
Notification of Share Interest
Sections 198-203 of the Companies Act 1985
We have today received a notice dated 18 January 2007 from an official of Artisan Partners Limited Partnership, the extract of which is as follows.
"We hereby notify you in fulfilment of the obligations of disclosure imposed by the provisions of sections 198 to 203 of the Companies Act (1985) (the "Act"), that:
(a) As of January 16, 2007, Artisan Partners Limited Partnership was interested in aggregate for the purposes of the Act in 14,471,172 ordinary shares ("APLP Shares") comprised in the relevant share capital, as defined in section 198(2) of the Act, of Countrywide plc (the "Company"). Of the APLP Shares, Artisan International Value Fund was interested in 8,238,199 ordinary shares ("Fund Shares")
(b) We believe that the APLP Shares representing approximately 8.47% of the issued share capital of the Company as of January 16, 2007.
(c) So far as we are aware, at the date of this notice, the registered holders of the APLP Shares are as follows:
Nominee Shares State Street Nominees Limited 9,783,760 Bank of New York Nominees Ltd 3,432,252 Mellon Trust 767,547 Brown Brothers Harriman 422,016 Chase Nominees Ltd 65,597
Of the 9,783,760 shares held by State Street Nominees Limited, 8,238,199 are the Fund Shares.
(d) In addition, Artisan Investment Corporation, Andrew A Ziegler, and Carlene M Ziegler, have a notifiable interest in the APLP Shares by virtue of section 203(3) of the Act;
(e) So far as we are aware, as at the date of this notice, none of the APLP Shares comprise an interest falling within section 208(5) of the Act;
(f) The notification is given in fulfilment of the obligations of each of Artisan Partners Limited Partnership, Artisan Investment Corporation, Andrew A Ziegler, Carlene M Ziegler and Artisan International Fund under the requirements of the Act and their address is at 875 East Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 800, Milwaukee W1 53202. This notice constitutes separate notification that has been combined solely for the purposes of clarity and efficiency, it is not intended to indicate that any of these entities act as a group or in concert with respect to these interests".
They have increased their shareholding from 12,705,007 shares reported on 6 November 2006 to 14,471,172 shares. On the basis of issued share capital of 170,856,686 the holding of 14,471,172 shares represents 8.47% of the Company's shares in issue.
Director/Secretary
Countrywide plc
COUNTRYWIDE PLC