Transaction in Own Shares

British Portfolio Trust PLC
10 December 2004


British Portfolio Trust plc announces that on 10 December 2004 it purchased, for
cancellation, 45,000 Ordinary 1p Shares (representing 0.09% of the issued
Ordinary Capital), at a price of 128.00p per Ordinary Share.

Settlement and cancellation of the purchased 45,000 Ordinary Shares is due on 15
December 2004 when the issued share capital of the Trust will fall to 46,879,502
Ordinary 1p Shares.

Enquiries:

P W I Ingram

Company Secretary

Tel: [phone]

10 December 2004


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