Holding(s) in Company

3rd Jan 2008 11:44

TR-1: notification of major interests in shares

1. Identity of the issuer or the underlying Friends Provident Plc

issuer of existing shares to which voting

rights are attached:

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

boxes) 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 the Deutsche Bank AG

notification obligation:

4. Full name of shareholder(s) (if different Deutsche Bank AG

from 3.): Abbey Life Assurance Company Limited

5. Date of the transaction (and date on which 31/12/2007 the threshold is crossed or reached if

different):

6. Date on which issuer notified: 02/01/2008 7. Threshold(s) that is/are crossed or reached: 4%

8. Notified details:

A: Voting rights attached to shares Class/type of Situation previous Resulting situation after the triggering shares to the Triggering transaction transaction if possible using the ISIN CODE GB0030559776 Number of Number of Number of Number of voting % of voting shares voting rights shares rights Direct Indirect Direct Indirect 93,934,818 93,934,818 92,626,715 92,626,715 3.99B: Financial Instruments Resulting situation after the triggering transaction

Type of Expiration Exercise/ Number of voting % of voting financial date Conversion Period/ rights that may be rights instrument Date acquired if the instrument is exercised/ converted. Total (A+B) Number of voting rights % of voting rights 92,626,715 3.99

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

Deutsche Bank AG

Abbey Life Assurance Company Ltd

Proxy Voting: 10. Name of the 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: David Lindsay\Andrew Anderson

15. Contact telephone number: +00 44 207 545 8533\8532

Financial Services Authority

FRIENDS PROVIDENT PLC

---

Related Shares:

Fondul Proprietatea