Transaction in Own Shares

Anglo American PLC
17 May 2006


Anglo American plc

(the "Company")



Purchases of shares in Anglo American plc


Further to the announcement of 23 March 2006 (a copy of which is available on
the Company's website), Anglo American plc purchased 850,000 of its ordinary
shares on 16 May 2006 at prices between £22.00 and £22.62 per share. The
purchased shares will all be held as treasury shares.


Anglo American plc also announces that on 16 May 2006 the independent company
referred to in the announcement of 23 March 2006 purchased 540,000 ordinary
shares of Anglo American plc at prices equivalent to between £22.07 and £22.59
per share.


Following the above transactions, Anglo American plc holds 20,463,702 ordinary
shares in treasury, and has 1,507,513,675 ordinary shares in issue (excluding
treasury shares) and the independent company holds 2,554,549 ordinary shares,
representing 0.17 per cent of Anglo American plc's ordinary shares in issue
(excluding treasury shares).





Andy Hodges

Deputy Company Secretary


17 May 2006


END.




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