DGAP-UK-Regulatory: Fairpoint Group PLCShs

EQS-Regulatory: Fairpoint Group plc: NOTIFICATION OF MAJOR INTEREST IN SHARES

Fairpoint Group plc / Holding(s) in Company* Fairpoint Group plc: NOTIFICATION OF MAJOR INTEREST IN SHARES

30-Nov-2015 / 18:20 CET/CEST Dissemination of a Regulatory Announcement, transmitted by EQS Group AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

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? For filings with the FCA include the annex For filings with issuer exclude the annex

TR-1: NOTIFICATION OF MAJOR INTEREST IN SHARES i

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

2 Reason for the notification (please tick the appropriate box or boxes):

An acquisition or disposal of voting rights X

An acquisition or disposal of qualifying financial instruments which may result in the acquisition of shares already issued to which voting rights are attached

An acquisition or disposal of instruments with similar economic effect to qualifying financial instruments An event changing the breakdown of voting rights

Other (please specify):

3. Full name of person(s) subject to the notification obligation: iii HARGREAVE HALE LIMITED

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

5. Date of the transaction and date on which the threshold is crossed or reached: v 27 NOVEMBER 2015

6. Date on which issuer notified: 30 NOVEMBER 2015

7. Threshold(s) that is/are crossed or reached: vi, vii 18%

8. Notified details: A: Voting rights attached to shares viii, ix Class/type Situation previous Resulting situation after of shares to the triggering the triggering transaction transaction if possible Number Number Number Number % of voting of of of of rights x using Shares Voting shares voting the ISIN CODE Rights Direct Indirect rights Direct Indirect Direct Indi xi rect xii GB0032360280 8,173,925 8,173,925 8,248,925 8,248,925 18.0708%

B: Qualifying Financial Instruments Resulting situation after the triggering transaction

Type of financial Expiration Exercise/ Number of voting % of voting instrument date xiii Conversion rights that may be rights Period xiv acquired if the instrument is exercised/ converted.



C: Financial Instruments with similar economic effect to Qualifying Financial Instruments xv, xvi

Resulting situation after the triggering transaction

Type of Exercise Expiration Exercise/ Number of % of voting financial price date xvii Conversion voting rights rights instrument period xviii instrument xix, xx refers to Nominal Delta



Total (A+B+C) Number of voting rights Percentage of voting rights 8,248,925 18.0708%

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

8,100,000 of these shares are held for unit trusts operated by Marlborough Fund Managers Ltd, for whom Hargreave Hale Ltd manages the investments on a discretionary basis. The remaining balance is held on behalf of other discretionary clients.

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: David Clueit, Hargreave Hale Ltd 15. Contact telephone number: 01253 754739

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30-Nov-2015 The EQS Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements as well as Financial and Media Releases. Media archive at www.dgap.de/ukreg

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Language: English Company: Fairpoint Group plc Fairclough House, Church Street PR7 4EX Adlington, Lancashire United Kingdom Phone: +44 1257 486979 Fax: +44 844 826 1176 E-mail: abuck@fairpoint.co.uk Internet: www.fairpoint.co.uk ISIN: GB0032360280 WKN: 911565 Category Code: HOL TIDM: 349N Sequence Number: 2930 Time of Receipt: 30-Nov-2015 / 18:13 CET/CEST End of Announcement EQS News Service ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

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