Holding(s) in Company

Provident Financial PLC
01 August 2005

                                  SCHEDULE 10

                   NOTIFICATION OF MAJOR INTERESTS IN SHARES



1. Name of company


Provident Financial plc



2. Name of shareholder having a major interest


M&G Group Limited/M&G Limited/M&G Investment Management Limited



3. Please state whether notification indicates that it is in respect of holding
of the shareholder named in 2 above or in respect of a non-beneficial interest
or in the case of an individual holder if it is a holding of that person's
spouse or children under the age of 18


Notification in respect of shareholder named in 2 above



4. Name of the registered holder(s) and, if more than one holder, the number of
shares held by each of them





M&G Investment Management Limited:


CHASE NOMS LTD                                                35,156
ESMEE FAIRBAIRN FOUNDATION                                   175,792
M&G INCOME INV CO. LTD                                       453,942
MAGIM HSBC GIS NOM (UK) SALI                                  52,901
NORTRUST NOMINEE LTD A/C MHA01                               600,000
NORTRUST NOMINEE LTD A/C MHE01                               477,208
NORTRUST NOMINEE LTD A/C MKA01                               233,000
NORTRUST NOMINEE LTD A/C MKD01                             1,625,000
NORTRUST NOMS LTD                                            569,309
NORTRUST NOMS LTD A/C CRI01                                2,000,000
NORTRUST NOMS LTD A/C MEK01                                  338,620
NORTRUST NOMS LTD A/C MVA01                                   92,038
NORTRUST NOMS LTD A/C MVB01                                  325,000
NORTRUST NOMS LTD A/C PUC01                                  321,764
NORTRUST NOMS LTD A/C PUF01                                   84,287
NORTRUST NOMS LTD A/C PUI01                                   20,361
NORTRUST NOMS LTD A/C PUR01                                  957,177
PRUCLT HSBC GIS NOM (UK) PAC AC                           14,753,777
PRUCLT HSBC GIS NOM (UK) PHL AC                              730,891
PRUCLT HSBC GIS NOM (UK) PPL AC                            1,051,148
PRUCLT HSBC GIS NOM (UK) EQBF AC                              25,869
PRUCLT HSBC GIS NOM (UK) HYBF AC                             256,049
PRUCLT HSBC GIS NOM (UK) MNBF AC                              44,635
PRUCLT HSBC GIS NOM (UK) PENE AC                             163,301
RECOVERY INV COMPANY LIMITED                                 387,377







M&G Group Limited and M&G Limited:



As above, and in addition:


NORTRUST NOMINEE LTD A/C MHF01                                48,899
NORTRUST NOMS LTD A/C PUE01                                    2,000







5. Number of shares / amount of stock acquired


Not disclosed



6. Percentage of issued class (any treasury shares held by company should not be
taken into account when calculating percentage)


-



7. Number of shares / amount of stock disposed


-



8. Percentage of issued class (any treasury shares held by company should not be
taken into account when calculating percentage)


-



9. Class of security


Ordinary shares 10 4/11p



10. Date of transaction


28 July 2005



11. Date company informed


29 July 2005



12. Total holding following this notification


M&G Group Limited 25,825,501 shares

M&G Investments Limited 25,774,602 shares

M&G Limited 25,825,501 shares





13. Total percentage holding of issued class following this notification (any
treasury shares held by company should not be taken into account when
calculating percentage)


M&G Group Limited 10.11%

M&G Investment Management Limited 10.09%

M&G Limited 10.11%







14. Any additional information


For the avoidance of doubt, each company is interested in the shares listed in 
point 4 above.



15. Name of contact and telephone number for queries


Emma G Versluys

Tel:  [phone] ext. 2569



16. Name and signature of authorised company official responsible for making
this notification


Emma G Versluys

Assistant Company Secretary



Date of notification


1 August 2005



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for loss of business or loss of profits) arising in contract, tort or otherwise
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it, or from any action or decision taken as a result of using this document or
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