COMPUTERSHARE TO BE NEW UK GILTS REGISTRAR

Computershare Investor Services plc was formally appointed as the new registrar for UK Government bonds, known as gilts, yesterday.

Following a review of Government debt management arrangements, HM Treasury and the Bank of England, the current gilts registrar, concluded that the private sector would be better placed to provide the benefits of economies of scale for this service in future.

The service was put out to tender last year, leading to Computershare being identified as the preferred bidder. Computershare is working closely with the Bank of England to ensure a successful transfer of the gilts registration service. It is expected that the service will be transferred in December of this year.

NOTES FOR EDITORS

1. Computershare is one of the largest providers of shareholder and employee management services. For more information, visit www.computershare.com

2. Media enquiries should be addressed to:

Simon Moyse   Treasury press office, 020 7270 4420
Steve Whiting  DMO press office, 020 7862 6532
Catherine Cook  College Hill, 020 7457 2020
Jeff Sainsbury  Computershare, 07787 154 477

3. Non-media enquiries should be addressed to the Treasury Correspondence and Enquiry Unit on 020 7270 4558, or by e-mail to
public.enquiries@hm-treasury.gov.uk.

4. This press release and other Treasury publications and information are available on the Treasury website at www.hm-treasury.gov.uk If you would like Treasury press releases to be sent to you automatically by e-mail you can subscribe to this service from the press release site on the website.