Rule 8.3 - BOC GROUP PLC

FORM 8.3

    DEALINGS BY PERSONS WITH INTERESTS IN SECURITIES REPRESENTING 1% OR MORE
              (Rule 8.3 of the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers)


1.   KEY INFORMATION

Name of person dealing        BARCLAYS PLC
(Note 1)
Company dealt in              BOC GROUP PLC
Class of relevant security    ORD GBP 0.25
to which the dealings being
disclosed relate (Note 2)
Date of dealing               31 MARCH 2006



2.   INTERESTS, SHORT POSITIONS AND RIGHTS TO SUBSCRIBE

(a)  Interests and short positions (following dealing) in the class of relevant
security dealt in (Note 3)

                            Long                    Short

                       Number          (%)     Number         (%)

(1) Relevant       25,947,181      (5.12%)      67,645     (0.01%)
securities
(2) Derivatives           191      (0.00%)      77,194     (0.02%)
(other than
options)
(3) Options and       100,000      (0.02%)           0     (0.00%)
agreements to
purchase/sell
Total              26,047,372      (5.14%)     144,839     (0.03%)

(b)  Interests and short positions in relevant securities of the company, other
     than the class dealt in (Note 3)


Class of                    Long                     Short
relevant
security:

                  Number                    Number
                                    (%)                       (%)
(1) Relevant
securities

(2) Derivatives
(other than
options)

(3) Options and
agreements to
purchase/sell

Total


(c)  Rights to subscribe (Note 3)

Class of relevant security:   Details



3.   DEALINGS (Note 4)

(a)  Purchases and sales

Purchase/sale Number of Securities Price per
                                   unit (GBP)
Purchase      115                  Transfer
Purchase      275                  15.4673
Purchase      2,297                15.4658
Purchase      3,000                15.4639
Purchase      3,930                15.4700
Sale          200                  15.4421
Sale          280                  15.4521
Sale          400                  15.4521
Sale          250                  15.4520
Sale          6,000                15.4500
Sale          450                  15.4621
Sale          275                  15.4620
Sale          100                  15.4520
Sale          140                  15.4521
Sale          200                  15.4521
Sale          1,250                15.4508
Sale          400                  15.4521
Sale          1,000                15.4521
Sale          210                  15.4521
Sale          100                  15.4520
Sale          480                  15.4520
Sale          221                  15.4521
Sale          150                  15.4620
Sale          150                  15.4521
Sale          400                  15.4521
Sale          175                  15.4521
Sale          300                  15.4521
Sale          100                  15.4520
Sale          450                  15.4508
Sale          275                  15.4621
Sale          300                  15.4520
Sale          100                  15.4520
Sale          220                  15.4521
Sale          100                  15.4520
Sale          427                  15.4421
Sale          1,000                15.4508
Sale          650                  15.4621
Sale          200                  15.4421
Sale          200                  15.4421
Sale          250                  15.4521
Sale          600                  15.4621
Sale          300                  15.4421
Sale          300                  15.4421
Sale          500                  15.4521
Sale          21,402               15.4700
Sale          500                  15.4685

 The following trade took place on
 30/03/2006
 Purchase/sale Number of Securities  Price per
                                     unit (GBP)
 Purchase      3,000                 15.4605

 (b)  Derivatives transactions
 (other than options)

 Product     Long/Short    Number of Securities Price Per
 name,       (Note 6)      (Note 7)             Unit (GBP)
 e.g. CFD
 CFD         Long          500                  15.4685
 CFD         Short         3,000                15.4639

 (c)  Options transactions in
 respect of existing securities

 (i)  Writing, selling, purchasing
 or varying

Product name,   Writing,          Number of          Exercise  Type, e.g.      Expiry   Option money
e.g. call       selling,          securities to      price     American,       date     paid/received
option          purchasing,       which the option   (GBP)     European etc.            per unit
                varying etc.      relates (Note 7)                                      (GBP)


 (ii) Exercising

 Product name, e.g.   Number of          Exercise price per
 call option          securities         unit (Note 5)





 (d)  Other dealings (including new
 securities) (Note 4)


 Nature of transaction  Details          Price per unit
 (Note 8)                                (if applicable)
                                         (Note 5)





 4.   OTHER INFORMATION

 Agreements, arrangements or
 understandings relating to options
 or derivatives


 Full details of any agreement, arrangement or understanding between the
 person disclosing and any other person relating to the voting rights of
 any relevant securities under any option referred to on this form or
 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.





 Is a Supplemental Form 8 attached?
 (Note 9)                 NO


 Date of disclosure                         3 APRIL 2006
 Contact name                               BARCLAYS COMPLIANCE
 Telephone number                           020 7116 2913
 If a connected EFM, name of
 offeree/offeror with which connected
 If a connected EFM, state nature of
 connection (Note 10)


 Notes

 The Notes on Form 8.3 can be
 viewed on the Takeover Panel's
 website at
 www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk