Holding(s) in Company

Provident Financial PLC 04 January 2008 TR-1(i): NOTIFICATION OF MAJOR INTERESTS IN SHARES 1. Identity of the issuer or the underlying issuer of existing shares to which voting rights are attached (ii): Provident Financial plc 2. Reason for the notification (please place an X inside the appropriate bracket /s): 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) : ( ) ................. 3. Full name of person(s) subject to the notification obligation (iii): Standard Life Investments Limited 4. Full name of shareholder(s) (if different from 3.) (iv): Vidacos Nominees 5. Date of the transaction (and date on which the threshold is crossed or reached if different) (v): 2 January 2008 6. Date on which issuer notified: 3 January 2008 7. Threshold(s) that is/are crossed or reached: 9% 8. Notified details: ................. A: Voting rights attached to shares Class/type of shares if possible Situation previous to the Triggering transaction (vi) using the ISIN CODE Number of shares Number of voting Rights (viii) GB00B1Z4ST84 10,494,234 10,494,234 Resulting situation after the triggering transaction (vii) Class/type of shares if Number of shares Number of voting rights (ix) % of voting rights possible using the ISIN CODE Direct (x) Indirect (xi) Direct Indirect GB00B1Z4ST84 11,815,303 6,600,332 5,214,971 5.031% 3.975% B: Financial Instruments Resulting situation after the triggering transaction (xii) Type of Expiration Date Exercise/Conversion Number of voting rights % of voting rights financial (xiii) Period/ Date (xiv) that may be acquired if the instrument instrument is exercised/ converted. Total (A+B) Number of voting rights % of voting rights 11,815,303 9.007% 9. Chain of controlled undertakings through which the voting rights and/or the financial instruments are effectively held, if applicable (xv): Standard Life Investments Limited 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: R V Carter Company Secretarial Assistant 15. Contact telephone number: 01274 731111 ext 2310 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
UK 100