2nd Jun 2006 16:16
2 June 2006Notification of Share InterestSections 198-203 of the Companies Act 1985We have today received a notice dated 1 June 2006 from an official of ArtisanPartners Limited Partnership, the extract of which is as follows."We hereby notify you in fulfilment of the obligations of disclosure imposed bythe provisions of sections 198 to 203 of the Companies Act (1985) (the "Act"),that:(a) As of 31 May, 2006 Artisan Partners Limited Partnership was interested forthe purposes of the Act in 8,917,927 ordinary shares ("APLP Shares") comprisedin the relevant share capital, as defined in section 198(2) of the Act, ofCountrywide plc (the "Company"). Of the APLP Shares, Artisan InternationalValue Fund was interested in 4,932,654 Ordinary Shares ("Fund Shares")(b) We believe that the APLP Shares representing approximately 5.08% of theissued share capital of the Company as of May 31, 2006.(c) So far as we are aware, at the date of this notice, the registered holdersof the APLP Shares are as follows:Nominee Shares State Street Nominees Limited 5,317,850 Bank of New York Nominees Ltd 2,429,304 Mellon Trust 590,942 Brown Brothers Harriman 420,244 Chase Nominees Ltd 159,589 TOTAL 8,917,929 Of the 5,317,850 shares held by State Street Nominees Limited, 4,932,654 arethe Fund Shares.(d) In addition, Artisan Investment Corporation, Andrew A Ziegler, and CarleneM Ziegler, have a notifiable interest in the APLP Shares by virtue of section203(3) of the Act;(e) So far as we are aware, as a the date of this notice, none of the APLPShares comprise an interest falling within section 208(5) of the Act;(f) The notification is given in fulfilment of the obligations of each ofArtisan Partners Limited Partnership, Artisan Investment Corporation, Andrew AZiegler, Carlene M Ziegler and Artisan International Fund under therequirements of the Act and their address is at 875 East Wisconsin Avenue,Suite 800, Milwaukee W1 53202. This notice constitutes separate notificationthat has been combined solely for the purposes of clarity and efficiency, it isnot intended to indicate that any of these entities act as a group or inconcert with respect to these interests".They have increased their shareholding from 7,157,315 shares reported on 8December 2005 to 8,917,929 shares. On the basis of issued share capital of175,439,956, the holding of 8,917,929 shares represents 5.08% of the Company'sshares in issue.Director/SecretaryCountrywide plcENDCOUNTRYWIDE PLCRelated Shares:
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