Transaction in Own Shares

Next PLC
02 August 2004


Purchase of Shares in Next plc

2 August 2004

Next plc

Next close period share repurchase programme

Next plc announces that the company has commenced an irrevocable,
non-discretionary programme to purchase shares on its own behalf, for
cancellation, during its close period which commences on 2 August 2004 and ends
on 13 September 2004. The programme may or may not result in Next shares being
purchased but in any event no more than 6.0 million (six million) shares will be
acquired during the period.

Acquisitions will be effected within certain pre-set parameters, and in
accordance with both Next's general authority to repurchase shares and Chapter
15 of the Listing Rules which requires that the maximum price payable be limited
to no more than 105% of the average middle market closing price of Next shares
for the 5 dealing days preceding the date of purchase.

A J R McKinlay
Company Secretary
Next plc


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