Transaction in Own Shares

British Portfolio Trust PLC
19 March 2004

British Portfolio Trust plc announces that on 19 March 2004 it purchased, for
cancellation, 53,000 Ordinary ranking 1p Shares (representing 0.11% of the
issued Ordinary Capital), at a price of 120p per Ordinary Share

Settlement and cancellation of the purchased 53,000 Ordinary ranking Shares is
due on 24 March 2004 when the issued share capital of the Trust will fall to
48,668,561 Ordinary 1p Shares.

Enquiries:

P W I Ingram

Company Secretary

Tel: [phone]

19 March 2004






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