Vesuvius Regulatory News (VSVS)

12 Mar 2009 15:52

TR-1: NOTIFICATION OF MAJOR INTERESTS IN SHARES

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

COOKSON GROUP PLC

2. Reason for the notification (please state Yes/No):

An acquisition or disposal of voting rights: ( )

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): ( Yes, Rights Issue )

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

AXA S.A. (25 Avenue Matignon, 75008 Paris) and its group of companies

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

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

11 March 2009

6. Date on which issuer notified:

12 March 2009

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

3% 8. Notified details:……………..

A: Voting rights attached to shares

Class/type of shares if possible Situation previous to the using the ISIN CODE Triggering transaction Number of shares Number of voting Rights B07V4P8 11,648,492 11,648,492

Resulting situation after the triggering transaction

Class/type of shares if possible Number of Number of voting % of voting using the ISIN CODE shares rights rights Direct Direct Indirect Direct Indirect B07V4P8 7,330,636 7,330,636 5,567,856 0.27 0.20 B: Financial Instruments

Resulting situation after the triggering transaction

Type of Expiration Exercise/ Number of voting rights that may be % of financial Date Conversion acquired if the instrument is voting instrument Period/ Date exercised/ converted. rights N/A Total (A+B)Number of voting % of voting rights rights 12,898,492 0.47

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

Name of the Company / Fund Number of Shares % of Issued Share Capital

AXA 5,732,935 0.20742 Direct AXA Financial, Inc 117,100 0.00424 Indirect AXA IM UK 879,373 0.03182 Direct AXA IM UK 5,375,000 0.19447 Indirect AXA Rosenberg 75,756 0.002740909 Indirect AXA Winterthur 718,328 0.03 Direct Total Direct 7,330,636 0.26523 Total Indirect 5,567,856 0.20145 TOTAL 12,898,492 0.46668 Proxy Voting:

10. Name of the proxy holder:

N/A

11. Number of voting rights proxy holder will cease to hold:

N/A

12. Date on which proxy holder will cease to hold voting rights:

N/A 13. Additional information: 14. Contact name:

RACHEL FELL, DEPUTY SECRETARY, COOKSON GROUP PLC

15. Contact telephone number:

+ 44 (0) 20 7822 0000