21st Jul 2006 14:36
21 July 2006Notification of Share InterestSections 198-203 of the Companies Act 1985We have today received a notice dated 20 July 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 19 July, 2006 Artisan Partners Limited Partnership was interested forthe purposes of the Act in 10,599,169 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 5,828,401 Ordinary Shares ("Fund Shares")(b) We believe that the APLP Shares representing approximately 6.04% of theissued share capital of the Company as of 19 July, 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 6,518,860 Bank of New York Nominees Ltd 2,809,184 Mellon Trust 641,904 Brown Brothers Harriman 455,754 Chase Nominees Ltd 173,467 TOTAL 10,599,169 Of the 6,518,860 shares held by State Street Nominees Limited, 5,828,401 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 9,722,917 shares reported on 13July 2006 to 10,599,169 shares. On the basis of issued share capital of175,440,700, the holding of 10,599,169 shares represents 6.04% of the Company'sshares in issue.Director/SecretaryCountrywide plcENDCOUNTRYWIDE PLCRelated Shares:
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