Countrywide Farmers Retirement Benefits Scheme, Notice of Winding Up and Intention to Distribute Assetts

Countrywide Farmers Retirement Benefits Scheme Notice to Creditors and Beneficiaries under section 27 of the Trustee Act 1925

Notice is hereby given, pursuant to section 27 of the Trustee Act 1925 (as amended), that the Trustee of the Countrywide Farmers Retirement Benefits Scheme (formerly known as the Midland Shires Farmers Limited Retirement Benefits Scheme and including a transfer in of members of the WMF Pension Scheme on 31 August 2000) (the Scheme) is finalising its winding-up and intends to distribute the assets of the Scheme, in accordance with its governing documentation and overriding law, among all persons entitled to benefits from the Scheme as at 6 March 2018, being the date the Scheme commenced to wind up. This will be achieved by securing all members' defined benefits (or final salary benefits) by the purchase of immediate and deferred annuities with an insurance company.

The following individuals are requested to write to the Trustee, care of the Scheme administrator, Broadstone, at the address given below by 30 June 2023:

* any employee or former employee of Countrywide Farmers pic (previously known as Countrywide Farmers Holdings pic), Midland Shires Farmers Limited or WMF Limited, who believes that they were a member of the Scheme and who is not already receiving a pension in respect of their membership of the Scheme and has not received any correspondence from the Trustee in the last 2 years;

* any person who believes themselves to be a beneficiary of the Scheme as the widow, widower or dependant of a deceased member of the Scheme; and

* any other person who believes they have a claim against, or an interest in, the Scheme;

Claimants should provide their full name, address, date of birth, National Insurance number and details of when they were members of the Scheme.

After 30 June 2023 the Trustee will proceed to distribute the assets of the Scheme among the persons entitled to them, having regard only to those claims and interests of which they had prior notice and in relation to the assets used for distribution, the Trustee will not be liable to any person or persons for a claim of which it does not have notice by 30 June 2023.

If the Trustee, or Broadstone, are already in contact with you (for example if you have received correspondence from them or are receiving a pension) you do not need to reply to this notice as your Interest has already been noted.

Dated: 31 March 2023

Contact Details

Nicola Hawkins PPF Principal Administrator Broadstone Consultants & Actuaries Limited 23 25 St George's Road Bristol BS1 5UU

for and on behalf of the Trustee of the Countrywide Farmers Retirement Benefits Scheme