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                            13 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      6,750,655        4.53%         18,118         0.01%

(2) Derivatives (other         493,593        0.33%        286,053         0.19%
than options)

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

Total                        7,244,248        4.86%        304,171         0.20%


(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         8,909         8.7589
Purchase         216           8.6550
Purchase         1,272         8.6859
Purchase         688           8.8008
Purchase         713           8.6550
Purchase         987           8.7550
Purchase         700           8.8085
Purchase         540           8.6550
Purchase         220           8.6550
Purchase         2,245         8.7608
Purchase         5,133         8.7278
Sale             32,112        8.7296
Sale             5,133         8.7278
Sale             2,754         8.7682
Sale             700           8.8085
Sale             784           8.7149
Sale             5,133         8.7278
Sale             410           8.7269
Sale             12,484        8.7131
Sale             9,677         8.6535
Sale             700           8.8085
Sale             8,642         8.7381


(b) Derivatives transactions (other than options)
Product Name     Long/Short      Number Of Securities     Price Per Unit
CFD              Short           1272                     8.6858
CFD              Short           2241                     87355
CFD              Short           987                      8.755
CFD              Short           8909                     8.7589
CFD              Short           2245                     8.7608
CFD              Short           688                      8.8007
CFD              Long            9677                     8.6534
CFD              Long            12484                    8.7131
CFD              Long            784                      8.7149
CFD              Long            5133                     8.7277
CFD              Long            32112                    8.7295
CFD              Long            8642                     8.7381
CFD              Long            2754                     8.7682
CFD              Long            700                      8.8085


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                                         14 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)