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                            02 January 2008



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      6,567,530        4.41%        166,677         0.11%

(2) Derivatives (other         602,836        0.40%        120,041         0.08%
than options)

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

Total                       7,170,366         4.81%         286,718        0.19%

(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         866           9.5750
Purchase         1,447         9.5150
Purchase         2,722         9.6073
Purchase         3,641         9.5365
Purchase         4,507         9.5439
Purchase         662           9.5509
Purchase         621           9.6153
Purchase         1,100         9.5707
Purchase         4,005         9.5991
Purchase         713           9.4950
Purchase         1,100         9.5707
Purchase         1,447         9.5150
Purchase         945           9.7336
Purchase         4,005         9.5991
Sale             1,100         9.5707
Sale             662           9.5500
Sale             945           9.7336
Sale             4,005         9.5991
Sale             1,447         9.5150
Sale             3,641         9.5347
Sale             4,507         9.5439
Sale             4,507         9.5439
Sale             2,722         9.6073
Sale             621           9.6153
Sale             866           9.5750

(b) Derivatives transactions (other than options)
Product Name     Long/Short      Number Of Securities     Price Per Unit
CFD              Short           1883                     9.5303
CFD              Short           662                      9.5508
CFD              Short           1100                     9.5707
CFD              Short           2722                     9.6073
CFD              Short           621                      9.6153
CFD              Long            3641                     9.5346
CFD              Long            866                      9.575

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                                         03 January 2008
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)