Transaction in Own Shares

PURCHASE OF OWN SHARES TO BE HELD IN TREASURY                 

1) Date of the purchase:

15 December 2008

2) Number of Ordinary Shares to be held in Treasury:

6,916

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

157.00p

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

Ordinary shares - 49,993,523 including shares held in Treasury

Ordinary shares - 48,494,792 excluding shares held in Treasury

5) Name of contact for queries:

Ms C Driscoll
020 7743 2427

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

Ms C Driscoll
for BlackRock Investment Management (UK) Limited
Secretary

7) Date of notification:

15 December 2008