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          ORD GBP 0.25
security to which the
dealings being disclosed
relate (Note 2)
Date of dealing            19 MAY 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)





(1) Relevant         26,115,086    (5.15%)       107,824    (0.02%)
securities
(2) Derivatives          26,121    (0.01%)       134,546    (0.03%)
(other than
options)
(3) Options and         100,000    (0.02%)             0    (0.00%)
agreements to
purchase/sell
Total                26,241,207    (5.18%)       242,370    (0.05%)


(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          Details
security:



3.   DEALINGS (Note 4)

(a)  Purchases and sales

Purchase/sale Number of Securities Price per unit
                                  (GBP)
Purchase      309                  15.6300
Purchase      889                  15.6300
Purchase      2,055                15.6300
Purchase      2,500                15.6300
Purchase      86,758               15.6300
Purchase      2,542                15.6323
Purchase      486,355              15.6300
Sale          500                  15.6230
Sale          330                  15.6225
Sale          343                  15.6226
Sale          370                  15.6330
Sale          185                  15.6226
Sale          310                  15.6225
Sale          2,000                15.6321
Sale          450                  15.6226
Sale          340                  15.6225
Sale          500                  15.6226
Sale          310                  15.6225
Sale          330                  15.6225
Sale          5,000                15.6225
Sale          235                  15.6225
Sale          300                  15.6225
Sale          230                  15.6225
Sale          230                  15.6321
Sale          1,000                15.6225
Sale          500                  15.6225
Sale          500                  15.6235
Sale          260                  15.6330
Sale          260                  15.6225
Sale          500                  15.6225
Sale          250                  15.6226
Sale          400                  15.6225
Sale          400                  15.6226
Sale          500                  15.6321
Sale          320                  15.6225
Sale          300                  15.6225
Sale          200                  15.6225
Sale          640                  15.6200
Sale          725                  15.6300
Sale          486,355              15.6300
Sale          1,032                15.6300
Sale          123                  15.6276
Sale          2,542                15.6177
Sale          1,514                15.6288
Sale          10                   15.6180
 Sale          934                   15.6284

 (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          10                   15.6180
 CFD         Long          2,542                15.6177
 CFD         Short         2,542                15.6323


 (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             European etc.            per unit (GBP)
                varying etc.      relates (Note 7)



 (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                     22 MAY 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