Notification of major interests in shares

26th Aug 2010 15:30

August 26, 2010 - Shire plc , the global specialty biopharmaceutical company

Notification of major interests in shares

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

Shire plc

2. Reason for the notification State Yes/No An acquisition or disposal of voting rights YES

An acquisition or disposal of qualifying financial instruments NO which may result in the acquisition of shares already issued to

which voting rights are attached

An acquisition or disposal of instruments with similar economic NO effect to qualifying financial instruments

An event changing the breakdown of voting rights NO Other (please specify): NO

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

(GSY) LTD 4. Full name of shareholder(s) (if different from 3.): N/A 5. Date of the transaction (and date on which the 31/5/2010 threshold is crossed or reached if different): 6. Date on which issuer notified: 25/8/2010 7. Threshold(s) that is/are crossed or reached: BELOW 3% 8. Notified details:

A: Voting rights attached to shares

Class/type of Situation previous Resulting situation after the triggering

shares to transaction if possible the Triggering using the ISIN transaction

CODE Number Number Number Number of voting % of voting of of of rights rights Shares Voting shares Rights Direct Direct Indirect Direct Indirect ORD 5p Shs & N/A BELOW ADRs 3:1 3% JE00B2QKY057

B: Qualifying Financial Instruments

Resulting situation after the triggering transaction

Type of Expiration Exercise/ Number of voting % of voting financial date Conversion rights that may be rights instrument Period/ Date acquired if the instrument is exercised/ converted N/A NominalDelta

C: Financial Instruments with similar economic effect to Qualifying Financial Instruments

Resulting situation after the triggering transaction Type of Exercise Expiration Exercise/ Number of % of voting financial price date Conversion voting rights instrument period rights instrument refers to N/A Total (A+B+C) Number of voting rights Percentage of voting rights

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

Proxy Voting: N/A 10. Name of the proxy holder:

11. Number of voting rights proxy holder will cease to N/A hold: 12. Date on which proxy holder will cease to hold voting N/A

rights: 13. Additional information: 14. Contact name: LIAN MCLAUGHLIN

15. Contact telephone number: 01481 726088

Contact at Shire plc: Tony Guthrie, Deputy Company Secretary, 01256 894746

For further information please contact:

Investor Relations Eric Rojas [email protected] +1 781 482 0999 Notes to editorsSHIRE PLC

Shire's strategic goal is to become the leading specialty biopharmaceutical company that focuses on meeting the needs of the specialist physician. Shire focuses its business on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), human genetic therapies (HGT) and gastrointestinal (GI) diseases as well as opportunities in other therapeutic areas to the extent they arise through acquisitions. Shire's in-licensing, merger and acquisition efforts are focused on products in specialist markets with strong intellectual property protection and global rights. Shire believes that a carefully selected and balanced portfolio of products with strategically aligned and relatively small-scale sales forces will deliver strong results.

For further information on Shire, please visit the Company's website: www.shire.com.

2Registered in Jersey, No. 99854, 22 Grenville Street, St Helier, Jersey JE4 8PXPress Release

www.shire.com

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