Holding in Company

1. Identity of the issuer or the underlying issuer of existing shares to which voting rights are attached:

ELAN CORPORATION PLC

2. Reason for the notification   (please tick the appropriate box or boxes)

An acquisition or disposal of voting rights 

X

An acquisition or disposal of financial instruments which may result in the acquisition of shares already issued to which voting rights are attached

An event changing the breakdown of voting rights

Other (please specify): Exemption Trading Book DTR 5.1.3 (4)

X

3. Full name of person(s) subject to the notification obligation:

The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.

4. Full name of shareholder(s) (if different from 3.):

Goldman, Sachs & Co.,

Goldman Sachs International, 

Goldman Sachs Asset Management L.P.,

Goldman Sachs JBWere Managed Funds Limited, 

Goldman Sachs JBWere Asset Management Pty Ltd,

Goldman Sachs Financial Markets L.L.C 

5. Date of the transaction (and date on which the threshold is crossed or reached if different):

30 JULY 2008

6. Date on which issuer notified:

01 AUGUST 2008

7. Threshold(s) that is/are crossed or reached:

4%

8. Notified details:

A: Voting rights attached to shares

Class/type of shares 

 if possible using the ISIN CODE

Situation previous to the Triggering transaction 

Resulting situation after the triggering transaction

Number of Shares 

Number of Voting Rights viii

Number of shares 

Number of voting rights ix

% of voting rights

Direct

Direct x

Indirect xi

Direct

Indirect

US2841312083

IE0003072950

18,154,597 (18,154,597 ADRs)

266,401

3.830%

0.056%

2,505,227 (2,505,227 ADRs)

225,506

17,794,330 (17,794,330 ADRs)

137

0.53%

0.05%

3.75%

0.00%

B: Financial Instruments

Resulting situation after the triggering transaction xii

Type of financial instrument 

Expiration date xiii

Exercise/ Conversion Period/ Date xiv 

Number of voting rights that may be acquired if the instrument is exercised/ converted. 

% of voting rights

Total (A+B)

Number of voting rights

% of voting rights

20,525,200

4.33%

9. Chain of controlled undertakings through which the voting rights and/or the financial instruments are effectively held, if applicable xv:

The interest in 37,990 shares arose from a beneficial interest held by Goldman, Sachs & Co. ("GS&Co."), a direct subsidiary of GS Inc. These shares are, or will be, registered in the name of Goldman Sachs Securities (Nominees), Limited ("GSSN").

The interest in 187,516 shares arose from a beneficial interest held by Goldman Sachs International, a wholly-owned indirect subsidiary of GS Inc. These shares are, or will be, registered at CREST in account CREPTEMP.

The interest in 137 shares arose from the interest held by Goldman Sachs Asset Management, LP a wholly owned subsidiary of GS Inc acting as discretionary manager. We believe that some of these shares are, or will be, registered in the name of Goldman Sachs Securities (Nominees), Limited ("GSSN").

The interest in 1,959,975 shares arose from a beneficial interest held by Goldman, Sachs & Co. ("GS&Co."), a direct subsidiary of GS Inc. of 1,959,975 American Depositary Receipts ("ADRs"). These ADRs are, or will be, held at the Depositary Trust Company of New York ("DTC").

The interest in 545,252 shares arose from a beneficial interest held by Goldman Sachs Financial Markets L.L.C. a direct subsidiary of GS Inc of 545,252 American Depositary Receipts ("ADRs"). These ADRs are, or will be, held at the Depositary Trust Company of New York ("DTC").

The interest in 17,638,044 shares arose from an interest held by Goldman, Sachs & Co., a wholly-owned direct subsidiary of GS Inc, acting as custodian for its customers of 17,638,044 American Depositary Receipts ("ADRs"). These ADRs are, or will be, held at the Depositary Trust Company of New York ("DTC").

The interest in 12,477 shares arose from an interest held by Goldman, Sachs & Co., a wholly-owned direct subsidiary of GS Inc, acting as discretionary manager of 12,477 American Depositary Receipts ("ADRs"). These ADRs are, or will be, held at the Depositary Trust Company of New York ("DTC").

The interest in 66,309 shares arose from the interest held by Goldman Sachs Asset Management, LP a wholly owned subsidiary of GS Inc acting as discretionary manager of 66,309 American Depositary Receipts ("ADRs"). These ADRs are, or will be, held at the Depositary Trust Company of New York ("DTC").

The interest in 46,300 shares was held by Goldman Sachs JBWere Asset Management Pty Ltd as discretionary manager of 46,300 American Depositary Receipts ("ADRs"). These ADRs are, or will be, held at the Depositary Trust Company of New York ("DTC").

The interest in 31,200 shares was held by Goldman Sachs JBWere Managed Funds Limited, as discretionary manager of 31,200 American Depositary Receipts ("ADRs"). These ADRs are, or will be, held at the Depositary Trust Company of New York ("DTC").

Proxy Voting:

10. Name of the proxy holder:

N/A

11. Number of voting rights proxy holder will cease to hold:

N/A

12. Date on which proxy holder will cease to hold voting rights:

N/A

13. Additional information:

General email contact:

shareholderdisclosures@gs.com

14. Contact name:

Sean Rogers / Alan Cox

15. Contact telephone number:

0207-552-9205 / 0207-774 -8774