Transaction in Own Shares

British Portfolio Trust PLC
05 August 2004


British Portfolio Trust plc announces that on 4 August 2004 it purchased, for
cancellation, 200,000 Ordinary 1p Shares (representing 0.42% of the issued
Ordinary Capital), at a price of 117p per Ordinary Share.

Settlement and cancellation of the purchased 200,000 Ordinary Shares is due on 9
August 2004 when the issued share capital of the Trust will fall to 47,555,002
Ordinary 1p Shares.

Enquiries:

P W I Ingram
Company Secretary
Tel: [phone]

5 August 2004


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