BlackRock, Inc. has acquired additional voting rights in Close Brothers Group PLC. The acquisition was notified on October 3, 2023. The total positions of BlackRock, Inc. in Close Brothers Group PLC now amount to 5.55% of voting rights. This is an increase from the previous position of 5.75% of voting rights. The acquisition of voting rights was made through both direct holdings and financial instruments.

BlackRock, Inc. holds 5.04% of direct voting rights in Close Brothers Group PLC, which corresponds to 7,596,361 shares. In addition, BlackRock, Inc. holds 0.49% of voting rights through financial instruments, specifically securities lending, which corresponds to 749,330 shares. BlackRock, Inc. also holds 0.02% of voting rights through financial instruments with similar economic effect, specifically cash-settled contracts for difference (CFDs), which corresponds to 38,800 shares.

BlackRock, Inc. is a US-based company with its registered office in Wilmington. It is the ultimate controlling person in a chain of controlled undertakings that hold the voting rights and financial instruments in Close Brothers Group PLC. The chain includes various subsidiaries and entities such as BlackRock Holdco 2, Inc., BlackRock Financial Management, Inc., BlackRock International Holdings, Inc., and others.

This notification of major holdings in Close Brothers Group PLC by BlackRock, Inc. is in accordance with the standard form for notification of major holdings (TR-1).