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        BARCLAYS PLC
(Note 1)
Company dealt in              CLOSE BROS GROUP
Class of relevant security    ORD GBP0.25
to which the dealings being
disclosed relate (Note 2)
Date of dealing               15 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       6,682,164     4.48%         154,138     0.10%
securities
(2) Derivatives      555,272     0.37%         136,955     0.09%
(other than
options)
(3) Options and            0     0.00%              0      0.00%
agreements to
purchase/sell
Total              7,237,436     4.85%         291,093     0.20%


(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 security:   Details



3.   DEALINGS (Note 4)

  (a)  Purchases and sales

Purchase/sale Number of Securities Price per unit
                                   (GBP)
Purchase      1,600                9.5603
Purchase      46,346               9.6477
Purchase      3,916                9.6807
Purchase      2,265                9.6126
Purchase      1,600                9.5603
Purchase      3,439                9.6459
Purchase      3,843                9.6665
Purchase      30,047               9.6641
Purchase      3,843                9.6665
Purchase      3,843                9.6677
Purchase      140                  9.5500
Purchase      52,989               9.6556
Purchase      4,260                9.6080
Purchase      650                  9.5309
Purchase      10,486               9.6944
Purchase      2,991                9.7750
Purchase      20,027               9.6528
Purchase      52,989               9.6556
Sale          20,027               9.6518
Sale          3,843                9.6665
Sale          2,265                9.6126
Sale          1,518                9.5200
Sale          10,486               9.6944
Sale          10,486               9.6944
Sale          3,843                9.6665
Sale          3,916                9.6789
Sale          4,260                9.6080
Sale          140                  9.5500
Sale          1,600                9.5603
Sale          650                  9.5300
Sale          46,346               9.6477
Sale          3,439                9.6459
Sale          30,047               9.6641
Sale          2,991                9.7750
Sale          52,989               9.6556
Sale          4,260                9.6080

(b)  Derivatives transactions (other than options)
Product name,  Long/Short    Number of     Price per
(e.g. CFD)     (Note 6)      Securities    unit (GBP)
CFD            Short         650           9.5308
CFD            Short         1600          9.5603
CFD            Short         8261          9.6081
CFD            Short         2265          9.6126
CFD            Short         20027         9.6527
CFD            Short         30047         9.6641
CFD            Short         3843          9.6677
CFD            Long          140           9.55
CFD            Long          4260          9.608
CFD            Long          3439          9.6458
CFD            Long          3916          9.6788
CFD            Long          2991          9.7749

(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 (GBP)


(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
None

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                         16 January 2008
Contact name                               Geoff Smith
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