Purchase of Own Shares

FBD Holdings PLC
09 March 2005



















                           FBD Holdings plc ('FBD' )



                             Purchase of Own Shares





FBD announces that it has purchased 4,167,549 of its own ordinary shares at a
price of €19.30 per share ('Buyback') representing 9.94 per cent of the
Company's issued share capital before the Buyback. The Buyback took place today,
9th March, 2005.



FBD intends to cancel 2,656,649 of the Buyback shares and will hold the balance,
1,510,900 ordinary shares, as Treasury shares.



Following the Buyback and cancellation of shares, the total issued ordinary
share capital of FBD (excluding Treasury shares) will be 37,750,306. FBD holds
1,510,900 ordinary shares as Treasury shares.



Date :               9th March, 2005



Issued on behalf of FBD Holdings plc by Bloxham.





For Reference :

Philip Fitzsimons,   01 409 3200





This announcement has been issued through the Companies Announcement Service of



                            The Irish Stock Exchange










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