Purchase of Own Securities

Merrill Lynch UK Inv Tst PLC
31 May 2002

                             PURCHASE OF OWN SHARES



1) Date of the purchase:

30 May 2002

2) Number of Ordinary Shares purchased:

100,000

3) Highest and lowest price paid per share (excluding expenses):

708p

4) The issued share capital of the Company following this buy-back will be:

Ordinary shares - 13,393,799

5) Name of contact for queries:

Miss A Marsh

020 7743 5430

6) Name of authorised Company official responsible for this notification:

Miss A Marsh

for Merrill Lynch Investment Managers Group Services Limited

Secretary

7) Date of notification:

30 May 2002



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