Rule 8.3 - UK COAL PLC

FORM 8.3

DEALINGS BY PERSONS WHO OWN OR CONTROL 1% OR MORE OF ANY CLASS OF RELEVANT SECURITY
(Rule 8.3 of The City Code on Takeovers and Mergers)

Name of purchaser/vendor *                         BARCLAYS PLC
Company dealt in                                   UK COAL PLC
Relevant security dealt in                         ORD GBP 0.01
If a connected EFM, name of offeree/offeror with
which connected
If a connected EFM, nature of connection #
Date of dealing                                    21 OCTOBER 2005

DEALINGS †

Amount bought                                      Price per unit (currency must be stated)

Amount sold                                        Price per unit (currency must be stated)
2,500                                              1.3750
5,000                                              1.3467

Resultant total amount and percentage of the
same relevant security owned or controlled         4,141,472 (1.96%)

IS A SUPPLEMENTAL FORM 8 (DERIVATIVE)/FORM 8 (OPTION) ATTACHED? YES

Date of disclosure  24 OCTOBER 2005
Contact name        BARCLAYS CORPORATE SECRETARIAT
Telephone number    0207 116 2913

* Specify the owner or controller in addition to the person dealing. The naming of nominees or vehicle companies is
insufficient.

In the case of disclosure of dealings by fund managers on behalf of discretionary clients, the clients need not be
named.

# See the definition of "connected fund managers and principal traders" in the Definitions Section of the Code.

† If disclosing dealings/holdings in derivatives or options, please attach Supplemental Form 8 (Derivative) or
Supplemental Form 8 (Option), as appropriate.

For details of the Code's dealing disclosure requirements, see Rule 8 and its Notes which can be viewed on the Takeover
Panel's website at www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk.

SUPPLEMENTAL FORM 8 (DERIVATIVE)

DEALINGS/HOLDINGS IN DERIVATIVES
(This form should be attached to Form 8.1, Form 8.1(b)(ii), Form 8.2 or Form 8.3, as appropriate)

Description of all derivative products disclosed   CFD - A purchaser of a CFD will realise a gain
on this form                                       if the price of the underlying security goes up.
                                                   A seller of a CFD will realise a gain if the
                                                   price of the underlying security goes down. The
                                                   CFD contracts are open ended and there is no
                                                   rollover into new contracts.

Full details of any agreement, arrangement or      None
understanding between the person disclosing and
any other person 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.

WRITING/ENTERING INTO A DERIVATIVE
Product name   Transaction    Writing/        Number of        Reference price   Maturity date
eg long CFD    date           entering into   securities       (currency
                              (indicate as    to which the     must be stated)
                              applicable)     derivative
                                              is referenced


CLOSING OUT A DERIVATIVE

Product name   Transaction   Number of securities      Reference price     Closing out price
eg long CFD    date          to which the derivative   (currency must be   (currency must be
                             is referenced             stated)             stated)


DETAILS OF OPEN DERIVATIVES (excluding any transaction set out above)

Product name   Transaction    Writing/        Number of        Reference price   Maturity date
eg long CFD    date           entering into   securities       (currency
                              (indicate as    to which the     must be stated)
                              applicable)     derivative
                                              is referenced
Short CFD      11/06/2004     Entered Into    28,582           1.5884
Short CFD      16/06/2004     Entered Into    21,254           1.5150
Short CFD      17/06/2004     Entered Into    67,944           1.5234
Short CFD      29/06/2004     Entered Into    202,093          1.5900
Short CFD      01/07/2004     Entered Into    21,546           1.5500
Short CFD      05/07/2004     Entered Into    85,873           1.5534
Short CFD      09/07/2004     Entered Into    23,408           1.5284
Short CFD      21/07/2004     Entered Into    116,225          1.4800
Long CFD       25/08/2004     Entered Into    150,000          1.6783
Long CFD       27/08/2004     Entered Into    88,798           1.6716
Long CFD       31/08/2004     Entered Into    16,291           1.6700
Short CFD      09/09/2004     Entered Into    142,509          1.6533
Short CFD      22/09/2004     Entered Into    14,328           1.6883
Short CFD      04/10/2004     Entered Into    196,584          1.6533
Short CFD      08/10/2004     Entered Into    10,310           1.6200
Short CFD      11/10/2004     Entered Into    10,339           1.6400
Short CFD      28/10/2004     Entered Into    22,363           1.5500
Short CFD      03/11/2004     Entered Into    38,209           1.4300
Long CFD       08/11/2004     Entered Into    15,584           1.5500
Short CFD      01/12/2004     Entered Into    57,957           1.3100
Short CFD      04/02/2005     Entered Into    145,932          1.3725
Short CFD      17/02/2005     Entered Into    68,796           1.2750
Short CFD      09/03/2005     Entered Into    50,000           1.1500
Short CFD      10/03/2005     Entered Into    132,394          1.0989
Short CFD      17/03/2005     Entered Into    154,350          1.1039
Short CFD      07/04/2005     Entered Into    705,323          1.3835

For details of the Code's dealing disclosure requirements, see Rule 8 and its Notes which can be viewed on the Takeover
Panel's website at www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk.