Holding(s) in Company

TR-1: Notifications of Major Interests in Shares

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

Provident Financial plc

2. Reason for notification (yes/no)

An acquisition or disposal of voting rights

Yes

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):______________

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

Artemis Investment Management Limited

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

Pearson Pension Fund

Prudential Staff Pen. Scheme

Akzo Nobel Pension Scheme

Falcon Re Artemis

Buzzard

Witan Investment Trust PLC

Artemis Intl Eur Sicav

Skandia Investment Fund

Skandia UK Strategic Best Idea

L&G (Barclays) S2 MM Alpha Fund

L&G (Barclays) MM Alpha Fund

Barclays UK Alpha Fund

Artemis Inst. UK Alpha Fund

Artemis Inst. Special Sits. FD

Artemis UK Special Sit Trust

Artemis Capital Fund

Artemis European Hedge Fund

Artemis UK Hedge Fund

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

11 May 2009

6. Date on which issuer notified:

12 May 2009

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

5%

8: Notified Details

A: Voting rights attached to shares

Class/type of shares

If possible use ISIN code

Situation previous to the triggering transaction

Resulting situation after the triggering transaction

Number of shares

Number of voting rights

Number of shares

Number of voting rights

Percentage of voting rights

Direct

Indirect

Direct

Indirect

Ordinary shares 

of 20 8/11p

ISIN:

GB00B1Z4ST84

6,459,695

6,459,695

6,598,916

6,598,916

5.00%

B: Financial Instruments

Resulting situation after the triggering transaction

Type of financial instrument

Expiration date

Exercise/ conversion period/date 

No. of voting rights that may be acquired (if the instrument exercised/converted)

Percentage of voting rights

Total (A+B)

Number of voting rights

Percentage of voting rights

6,598,916

5.00%

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

Proxy Voting:

10. Name of proxy holder:

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

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

13. Additional information:

14 Contact name:

E G Versluys

Deputy Company Secretary

15. Contact telephone number:

01274 731111 ext 2569