Holding(s) in Company

Fairpoint Group PLC
07 January 2008

Form TR-1 with annex. FSA Version 2.1 updated April 2007


For filings with the FSA include the annex

For filings with issuer exclude the annex


TR-1: Notifications of Major Interests in Shares


                                                              Fairpoint Group plc (was Debt Free
                                                              Direct plc)
1. Identity of the issuer or the underlying issuer of
existing shares to which voting rights are attached:


2. Reason for notification (yes/no)
                                                                                        Yes

An acquisition or disposal of voting rights
                                                                                        No

An acquisition or disposal of financial instruments which may result in the acquisition
of shares already issued to which voting rights are attached
                                                                                        No

An event changing the breakdown of voting rights
                                                                                        No

Other (please specify):_Share issue by company_____________
                                                     Matthew R Peacock

3. Full name of person(s) subject to notification
obligation:
                                                     Hanover General Partner I Limited



                                                     Hanover I Fund where the shares are registered
                                                     in the name of Vidacos Nominees Limited



                                                     Hanover I Master Fund LP where the shares are
                                                     registered in the name of Vidacos Nominees
                                                     Limited
                                                     As above

4. Full name of shareholder(s) (if different from
3):
                                                     04 January 2008

5. Date of transaction (and date on which the
threshold is crossed or reached if different):
                                                     04 January 2008

6. Date on which issuer notified:
                                                     19%

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


8: Notified Details
A: Voting rights attached to shares


Class/type of Situation previous to the Resulting situation after the triggering transaction
shares        triggering transaction
              Number of    Number of    Number of    Number of voting rights  Percentage of voting
If possible   shares       voting       shares                                rights
use ISIN code              rights

                                                     Direct      Indirect     Direct       Indirect
GB0032360280 7,797,975   7,797,975    8,062,975     8,062,975     19.01%




B: Financial Instruments


Resulting situation after the triggering transaction


Type of financial    Expiration date      Exercise/ conversion No. of voting rights  Percentage of voting
instrument                                period/date          that may be acquired  rights
                                                               (if the instrument
                                                               exercised/converted)





Total (A+B)


Number of voting rights                              Percentage of voting rights
8,062,975                                            19.01%


9. Chain of controlled undertakings through which the voting rights and /or the financial instruments are effectively
held, if applicable:
Vidacos Nominees Limited controls the total voting rights; being the vehicle managed by the Prime Broker to Hanover I
Fund LP and Hanover I Fund.


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:                                       Steven Prowse


15. Contact telephone name:                            0207 766 8400






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