Purchase of Own Securities

Macfarlane Group PLC
17 October 2002

PURCHASE OF OWN SHARES

Macfarlane Group PLC announces that on 16 October 2002, it purchased for
cancellation 250,000 ordinary shares of Macfarlane Group PLC, representing 0.22%
of Macfarlane's issued share capital, at an average price of approximately
43.84p per ordinary share. The highest price paid was 44p and the lowest price
was 43.60p per ordinary share. Upon the cancellation of these shares, the number
of Macfarlane shares in issue will be 115,954,000.


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