January 3, 2012 - Shire plc (LSE: SHP, NASDAQ: SHPGY), the global specialty biopharmaceutical company,  in accordance with DTR 5.6.1 of the FSA's Disclosure and Transparency Rules, notifies the market of the following:

At close of business on December 30, 2011, Shire plc's issued voting share capital consisted of 562,472,830 ordinary shares with a nominal value of 5 pence.  Each ordinary share carries one voting right.  Shire plc does not hold any shares in Treasury.

The above figure (562,472,830) may be used by shareholders as the denominator for the calculations by which they will determine if they are required to notify their interest in, or a change to their interest in, Shire plc under the FSA's Disclosure and Transparency Rules.

Tony Guthrie
Deputy Company Secretary

For further information please contact:

Investor Relations Eric Rojas (erojas@shire.com) +1 781 482 0999
Sarah Elton-Farr (seltonfarr@shire.com) +44 1256 894157

Notes to editors

SHIRE PLC

Shire's strategic goal is to become the leading specialty biopharmaceutical company that focuses on meeting the needs of the specialist physician.  Shire focuses its business on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, human genetic therapies, gastrointestinal diseases and regenerative medicine as well as opportunities in other therapeutic areas to the extent they arise through acquisitions.  Shire's in-licensing, merger and acquisition efforts are focused on products in specialist markets with strong intellectual property protection and global rights.  Shire believes that a carefully selected and balanced portfolio of products with strategically aligned and relatively small-scale sales forces will deliver strong results.

For further information on Shire, please visit the Company's website: www.shire.com.