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                            19 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      6,660,042        4.47%        102,190         0.07%

(2) Derivatives (other         544,949        0.37%        164,040         0.11%
than options)

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

Total                        7,204,991        4.84%        266,230         0.18%


(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         5,724         9.3888
Purchase         17,245        9.4124
Purchase         6,462         9.4232
Purchase         884           9.4050
Purchase         12,063        9.3814
Purchase         12,063        9.3814
Purchase         20,363        9.3780
Purchase         7,079         9.3759
Purchase         1,600         9.3148
Purchase         3,000         9.3500
Purchase         35,153        9.3937
Purchase         46,332        9.3903
Purchase         1,437         9.4200
Purchase         884           9.4050
Purchase         9,357         9.4079
Purchase         6,831         9.4200
Purchase         4,984         9.3909
Sale             7,079         9.3759
Sale             400           9.3600
Sale             1,600         9.3148
Sale             35,153        9.3937
Sale             8,945         9.4200
Sale             46,332        9.3903
Sale             884           9.4038
Sale             46,332        9.3903
Sale             5,724         9.3888
Sale             3,000         9.3482
Sale             884           9.4050
Sale             20,363        9.3780
Sale             17,245        9.4114
Sale             1,600         9.3148
Sale             12,063        9.3814
Sale             884           9.4050
Sale             4,984         9.3891


(b) Derivatives transactions (other than options)
Product Name     Long/Short      Number Of Securities     Price Per Unit
CFD              Short           2685                     9.3682
CFD              Short           7079                     9.3759
CFD              Short           4984                     9.3908
CFD              Long            1600                     9.3148
CFD              Long            3000                     9.3482
CFD              Long            20363                    9.3779
CFD              Long            5724                     9.3888
CFD              Long            884                      9.4038
CFD              Long            17245                    9.4114


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                                         20 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)