Rule 8.3 - CLOSE BROS GROUP

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  (Note 1)           BARCLAYS PLC
Company dealt in                           CLOSE BROS GROUP
Class of relevant security to which the    ORD GBP0.25
dealings being disclosed relate (Note 2)
Date of dealing                            12 December 2007



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 securities      6,807,561        4.57%          5,102         0.00%

(2) Derivatives (other         482,818        0.32%        331,222         0.22%
than options)

(3) Options and agreements           0        0.00%              0         0.00%
to purchase/sell

Total                        7,290,379        4.89%        336,324         0.23%


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

Class of relevant                           Long                                   Short
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     Price per unit (Note 5)
                 securities
Purchase         1,934         8.8805
Purchase         2,777         8.8700
Purchase         9,935         8.8150
Purchase         6,264         8.7698
Purchase         220           8.8700
Purchase         1,300         8.7364
Purchase         6,278         8.8663
Purchase         1,551         8.8477
Purchase         2,690         8.8482
Purchase         2,277         8.8700
Purchase         4,338         8.5862
Purchase         5,133         8.8716
Purchase         1,300         8.7364
Sale             1,934         8.8805
Sale             76,989        8.7450
Sale             33,600        8.8617
Sale             759           8.8700
Sale             1,176         8.6731
Sale             3,268         8.8772
Sale             8,298         8.8595
Sale             1,300         8.7364
Sale             10,925        8.7561
Sale             1,934         8.8805
Sale             1,601         8.8700
Sale             3,952         8.7606


(b) Derivatives transactions (other than options)
Product Name     Long/Short      Number Of Securities     Price Per Unit
CFD              Short           4338                     8.5861
CFD              Short           2341                     8.7356
CFD              Short           1300                     8.7364
CFD              Short           6264                     8.7698
CFD              Short           1551                     8.8476
CFD              Short           2690                     8.8482
CFD              Short           6278                     8.8663
CFD              Short           5133                     8.8715
CFD              Long            1176                     8.673
CFD              Long            10925                    8.756
CFD              Long            3952                     8.7606
CFD              Long            8298                     8.8595
CFD              Long            33600                    8.8616
CFD              Long            3268                     8.8772
CFD              Long            1934                     8.8805


C) Options transactions in respect of existing securities

(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
                varying etc.      relates (Note 7)                                      (Note 5)



(ii) Exercising

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






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


Nature of transaction (Note 8)          Details                        Price per unit (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                                         13 December 2007
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)