Transaction in Own Shares

PURCHASE OF OWN SHARES TO BE HELD IN TREASURY                 

1) Date of the purchase:

26 October 2007

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

82,907

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

685.7851p

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

Ordinary shares - 172,143,279 including shares held in Treasury
Ordinary shares - 158,075,479 excluding shares held in Treasury

5) Name of contact for queries:

Barbara Powley
020 7743 5610

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

Barbara Powley
for BlackRock Investment Management (UK) Limited
Secretary

7) Date of notification:

26 October 2007