Holding(s) in Company

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

CAIRN ENERGY 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): ___Change of ISC_________

X

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

HSBC Holdings Plc

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

Halbis Capital Management (Hong Kong) Limited

HSBC Global Asset Management (Singapore) Limited

LOUVRE GESTION

Sinopia Asset Management (UK) Limited

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

16th Mar 2009

6. Date on which issuer notified:

17th Mar 2009

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

7 %

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  x

Indirect xi

Direct

Indirect

GB00B1RZDL64

10,560,569

10,560,569

10,610,580

  NA

  10,610,580

  NA

7.71  %

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

10,610,580

 7.71 %

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

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:

None

14. Contact name:

Baljeet Gill

15. Contact telephone number:

020 7991 6555