CWD.L Regulatory News (CWD)

30 Apr 2007 14:23

30 April 2007

Transparency Obligations Directive

(Disclosure and Transparency Rules) Instrument 2006

We have today received the following notice dated 27 April 2007 from an official of the Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.

In compliance with the Disclosure and Transparency Rules, they confirm that as at 25 April 2007, the Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., of 85 Broad Street, New York NY10004, USA, have a notifiable interest in and are the indirect holders of 9,331,123 ordinary shares of Countrywide plc. Such shares are registered in the names of

* Goldman Sachs & Co., * Goldman Sachs Asset Management International; and * Goldman Sachs Asset Management L.P.

This equates to 5.46% of the issued share capital of 170,951,134 shares.

Of these 9,331,123 shares:

The interest in 8,849,102 shares arose from an interest held by Goldman Sachs & Co., a wholly-owned direct subsidiary of GS Inc, acting as custodian for its customers. These shares are, or will be, registered in the name of Goldman Sachs Securities (Nominees), Limited.

The interest in 482,021 shares arose from the interest held by Goldman Sachs Asset Management, a wholly owned subsidiary of GS Inc acting as discretionary manager. We believe that some of these shares are, or will be, registered in the name of GSSN.

They previously had no notifiable interest, as announced on 22 December 2006. They now hold 9,331,123 shares.

Director/Secretary

Countrywide plc