Rule 8.3 - AEGIS

FORM 8.3

DEALINGS BY PERSONS WHO OWN OR CONTROL 1% OR MORE OF ANY CLASS OF RELEVANT SECURITY
(Rule 8.3 of The City Code on Takeovers and Mergers)

Name of purchaser/vendor *                         BARCLAYS PLC
Company dealt in                                   AEGIS
Relevant security dealt in                         ORD GBP 0. 05
If a connected EFM, name of offeree/offeror with
which connected
If a connected EFM, nature of connection #
Date of dealing                                    14 OCTOBER 2005

DEALINGS †

Amount bought                               Price per unit  (currency must be stated)

Amount sold                                 Price per unit (currency must be stated)
14,689                                      1.3800

Resultant total amount and percentage of the
same relevant security owned or controlled  36,482,422 (3.26%)


IS A SUPPLEMENTAL FORM 8 (DERIVATIVE)/FORM 8 (OPTION) ATTACHED? YES

Date of disclosure   18 OCTOBER 2005
Contact name         BARCLAYS CORPORATE SECRETARIAT
Telephone number     0207 116 2913

* Specify the owner or controller in addition to the person dealing. The naming of nominees or vehicle companies is
insufficient.

In the case of disclosure of dealings by fund managers on behalf of discretionary clients, the clients need not be
named.

# See the definition of "connected fund managers and principal traders" in the Definitions Section of the Code.

† If disclosing dealings/holdings in derivatives or options, please attach Supplemental Form 8 (Derivative) or
Supplemental

Form 8 (Option), as appropriate.

For details of the Code's dealing disclosure requirements, see Rule 8 and its Notes which can be viewed on the Takeover
Panel's website at www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk.

SUPPLEMENTAL FORM 8 (DERIVATIVE)

DEALINGS/HOLDINGS IN DERIVATIVES
(This form should be attached to Form 8.1, Form 8.1(b)(ii), Form 8.2 or Form 8.3, as appropriate)

Description of all derivative products       CFD - A purchaser of a CFD will realise
disclosed on this form                       a gain if the price of the underlying security
                                             goes up. A seller of a CFD will realise a gain
                                             if the price of the underlying security goes down.
                                             The CFD contracts are open ended and there is no
                                             rollover into new contracts.


Full details of any agreement, arrangement   None
or understanding between the person
disclosing and any other person relating
to the voting rights or future acquisition
or disposal of any relevant securities to
which any derivative referred to on this
form is referenced. If none, this should
be stated.


WRITING/ENTERING INTO A DERIVATIVE

Product name   Transaction    Writing/        Number of        Reference price   Maturity date
eg long CFD    date           entering into   securities       (currency
                              (indicate as    to which the     must be stated)
                              applicable)     derivative
                                              is referenced

CLOSING OUT A DERIVATIVE

Product name   Transaction    Number of        Reference price   Closing out price
eg long CFD    date           securities       (currency         (currency must be
                              to which the     must be stated)   stated)
                              derivative
                              is referenced


DETAILS OF OPEN DERIVATIVES (excluding any transaction set out above)

Product name   Transaction    Written/        Number of          Reference price   Maturity date
eg long CFD    date           entered into    securities         (currency
                              (indicate as    to which the       must be stated)
                              applicable)     derivative
                                              is referenced
Short CFD      01/07/2003     Entered into    463,856            0.7825
Short CFD      18/07/2003     Entered into    165,021            0.8791
Short CFD      24/07/2003     Entered into    155,360            0.8820
Short CFD      29/09/2003     Entered into    788,952            0.9075
Long CFD       06/01/2004     Entered into    803,367            1.0374
Long CFD       16/01/2004     Written         22,600             1.1604
Short CFD      19/01/2004     Written         3,000              1.1401
Long CFD       20/01/2004     Written         5,300              1.1224
Short CFD      21/01/2004     Written         62,800             1.0853
Short CFD      22/01/2004     Written         24,200             1.0636
Long CFD       28/01/2004     Written         50,100             1.1007
Long CFD       30/01/2004     Written         25,700             1.0779
Short CFD      03/02/2004     Written         10,200             1.0726
Short CFD      06/02/2004     Written         3,500              1.0626
Short CFD      09/02/2004     Written         62,800             1.0818
Long CFD       10/02/2004     Written         32,700             1.0624
Long CFD       03/03/2004     Written         8,600              1.0849
Long CFD       08/03/2004     Written         8,800              1.0899
Long CFD       10/03/2004     Written         12,700             0.9999
Short CFD      30/07/2004     Entered into    359,347            0.8488
Short CFD      02/08/2004     Entered into    174,574            0.8325
Short CFD      04/08/2004     Entered into    294,619            0.8312
Short CFD      17/08/2004     Entered into    322,221            0.8158
Long CFD       05/11/2004     Entered into    117,592            1.0662
Long CFD       12/11/2004     Written         60,000             1.0949
Long CFD       16/11/2004     Written         15,657             1.0874
Short CFD      17/11/2004     Written         8,784              1.0726
Long CFD       18/11/2004     Written         32,376             1.0750
Long CFD       22/11/2004     Written         43,369             1.0509
Short CFD      25/11/2004     Written         8,227              1.0360
Short CFD      29/11/2004     Written         16,994             1.0280
Long CFD       30/11/2004     Written         3,600              1.0299
Short CFD      03/12/2004     Written         18,873             1.0277
Long CFD       06/12/2004     Written         30,108             1.0277
Long CFD       07/12/2004     Written         105,280            1.0338
Long CFD       08/12/2004     Written         43,143             1.0332
Long CFD       09/12/2004     Written         9,256              1.0344
Long CFD       13/12/2004     Written         6,974              1.0514
Long CFD       13/12/2004     Entered into    1,802,991          1.0475
Short CFD      14/12/2004     Written         26,469             1.0353
Short CFD      21/12/2004     Written         12,603             1.0200
Short CFD      22/12/2004     Written         2,843              1.0226
Short CFD      29/12/2004     Written         25,130             1.0568
Short CFD      04/01/2005     Written         54,852             1.0806
Short CFD      06/01/2005     Written         12,906             1.0745
Short CFD      07/01/2005     Written         15,089             1.0710
Short CFD      10/01/2005     Written         17,032             1.0592
Long CFD       11/01/2005     Written         15,293             1.0789
Short CFD      12/01/2005     Written         301,319            1.0449
Long CFD       17/01/2005     Written         35,560             1.0573
Long CFD       18/01/2005     Written         9,631              1.0508
Long CFD       19/01/2005     Written         12,239             1.0599
Long CFD       03/02/2005     Written         16,909             1.0499
Long CFD       08/02/2005     Written         50,461             1.0418
Long CFD       10/02/2005     Written         28,513             1.0599
Long CFD       11/02/2005     Written         32,402             1.0485
Long CFD       18/02/2005     Written         5,918              1.0174
Short CFD      23/02/2005     Written         44,788             0.9869
Short CFD