Share Buy Back

Abbey Plc (the 'Company')

Share Buy Back

Abbey Plc announces that on 23 December 2011, it purchased 10,000 ordinary shares of €0.32 each in the issued share capital of the Company ('Ordinary Shares') at €5.20 per share for cancellation.

Following the above the total number of Ordinary Shares in issue is 21,862,175.

This purchase was made pursuant to the authority granted by shareholders at an Extraordinary General Meeting of the Company held on 17 November 2010. To date 2,764,817 shares have been repurchased under this authority.

Enquires:

Abbey Plc: Davy:

David Dawson Brian Garrahy

Tel: +44 1707 651266 Tel: +353 1 679 6363

23 December 2011