Rule 8.3 - MCALPINE(ALFRED)

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              MCALPINE(ALFRED)
Class of relevant security    ORD GBP0.25
to which the dealings being
disclosed relate (Note 2)
Date of dealing               16 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       3,561,736      3.47%        335,524     0.33%
securities
(2) Derivatives      335,228      0.33%      1,029,214     1.00%
(other than
options)
(3) Options and            0      0.00%             0      0.00%
agreements to
purchase/sell
Total               3,896,964     3.80%      1,364,738     1.33%


(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      39,729               5.0255
Purchase      4,822                5.0374
Purchase      33,502               5.0493
Purchase      4,847                5.0679
Purchase      3,908                5.0226
Purchase      28,655               5.0470
Purchase      33,502               5.0493
Purchase      18,745               4.9849
Purchase      52,247               5.0262
Purchase      3,788                5.0225
Purchase      1,576                5.0142
Sale          1,576                5.0142
Sale          1,576                5.0142
Sale          28,655               5.0461
Sale          3,788                5.0225
Sale          4,822                5.0365
Sale          39,729               5.0251
Sale          18,745               4.9849
Sale          3,908                5.0226
Sale          52,247               5.0262
Sale          52,247               5.0262
Sale          33,502               5.0493
Sale          4,847                5.0679

(b)  Derivatives transactions (other than options)
Product name,  Long/Short    Number of     Price per
(e.g. CFD)     (Note 6)      Securities    unit (GBP)
CFD            Short         28655         5.047
CFD            Short         4847          5.0679
CFD            Long          1576          5.0142
CFD            Long          7696          5.0225
CFD            Long          39729         5.025
CFD            Long          4822          5.0364
CFD            Long          12425         5.0447

(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                         17 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