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               18 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       3,653,399      3.56%        293,982     0.29%
securities
(2) Derivatives      293,686      0.29%      1,021,803     1.00%
(other than
options)
(3) Options and            0      0.00%             0      0.00%
agreements to
purchase/sell
Total               3,947,085     3.85%     1,315,785      1.28%


(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      11,966               5.0497
Purchase      55,850               5.0600
Purchase      44,396               5.0657
Purchase      3,712                5.0806
Purchase      3,200                5.0426
Purchase      15,166               5.0482
Purchase      23,026               5.0416
Purchase      3,712                5.0806
Purchase      32,824               5.0735
Purchase      29,270               5.0679
Purchase      55,850               5.0600
Purchase      3,712                5.0812
Sale          55,850               5.0600
Sale          3,712                5.0806
Sale          15,166               5.0482
Sale          23,026               5.0407
Sale          15,166               5.0482
Sale          3,200                5.0426
Sale          11,966               5.0488
Sale          44,396               5.0657
Sale          3,712                5.0806
Sale          32,824               5.0735

(b)  Derivatives transactions (other than options)
Product name,  Long/Short    Number of     Price per
(e.g. CFD)     (Note 6)      Securities    unit (GBP)
CFD            Short         23026         5.0416
CFD            Short         32824         5.0734
CFD            Short         3712          5.0812
CFD            Long          3200          5.0425
CFD            Long          11966         5.0488
CFD            Long          13046         5.0685

(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                         21 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