=MIN(IF((LEFT(A2:A10,3)="002")*(B2:B10),(B2:B10)))

An array so enter with Ctrl+Shift+enter

"Gavin" wrote:

Hi,

I have some data in the following format:

Ref Date
001 01/05/08
002a 10/05/08
002b 08/05/08
002c 12/05/08

I'd like a formula to use in another table that looks up anything with a ref
starting 002 and returns the earliest date (08/05/08).

Any help gratefully appreciated.

Thanks,
Gavin.