Transaction in Own Shares

British Portfolio Trust PLC
16 April 2004

British Portfolio Trust plc announces that on 16 April 2004 it purchased, for
cancellation, 55,000 Ordinary ranking 1p Shares (representing 0.11% of the
issued Ordinary Capital), at a price of 123p per Ordinary Share

Settlement and cancellation of the purchased 55,000 Ordinary ranking Shares is
due on 21 April 2004 when the issued share capital of the Trust will fall to
48,268,561 Ordinary 1p Shares.

Enquiries:

P W I Ingram

Company Secretary

Tel: [phone]

16 April 2004



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