The Governor and Company of The Bank of Scotland

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on Thursday 8 May 2003 the Court of Session in Edinburgh pronounced an Order under Part VII of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (“the Order”): (i) sanctioning a banking business transfer scheme(“the Scheme”) for the transfer of part of the banking business of Bank of Scotland (“BOS”) to Halifax plc (“Halifax”); (ii) transferring that part of the undertaking and of the property and liabilities of BOS which comprise the Transferred Business (as defined in the Scheme), to Halifax with effect from the time which is provided for in the Scheme (“the Effective Date”);* (iii) ordering that any legal proceedings pending by or on behalf of or against BOS on the Effective Date, which relate to the Transferred Business, shall be continued by or on behalf of or against Halifax; (iv) ordering Halifax to deposit two certified copies of the Order with the Financial Services Authority; and (v) allowing BOS or Halifax, to apply to the Court for such further Orders in respect of any incidental, consequential and supplementary matters as may be necessary or convenient for securing that the Scheme is fully and effectively carried out. On 8th May 2003 two certified copies of the Order were deposited with the Financial Services Authority. *The Scheme is expected to become effective on 21 July 2003. Copies of the Order are available by writing to BOS at FSMA Transfer, Bank of Scotland Savings, Teviot House, 41 South Gyle Crescent, Edinburgh EH12 9DR. Dated this 16th day of May 2003.