Press Release

Results of Court Meeting and Extraordinary General Meeting - Shareholders Approve Scheme of Arrangement and New Share Plans

09 May 2008 - Basingstoke, UK and Philadelphia, US – May 9, 2008 – Shire plc (LSE: SHP, NASDAQ: SHPGY), the global specialty biopharmaceutical company, announces that ordinary shareholders approved the scheme of arrangement proposed in a circular to shareholders dated 16 April 2008 (the "Circular"), without modification, at a meeting convened by the Court and held today.

At a hearing convened for 22 May 2008, the High Court is expected to approve the scheme of arrangement, which will result in the establishment of a new UK listed, Jersey incorporated holding company, Shire Limited, above Shire plc. As is the case for Shire plc, the new holding company will have its primary listing on the London Stock Exchange and its American Depositary Shares will be traded on NASDAQ.

At the extraordinary general meeting (the "EGM") which immediately followed the Court meeting, shareholders also approved, without modification, all resolutions proposed in the notice of the EGM included in the Circular. Among other things, the proposed resolutions sought shareholder approval for the scheme of arrangement, to amend Shire plc’s articles and approval for the reduction of capital of Shire Limited for the creation of distributable reserves.

Shareholders at the EGM also approved resolutions proposing new employee share save and share option schemes by Shire Limited, the principal terms of which were summarised in the Circular.