Acquisition of shares by ESOT

Close Brothers Group PLC
26 March 2007




Close Brothers Group plc (the "Company") announces that Bedell Trustees Limited
(the "Trustee") as Trustee of the Close Brothers Group Employee Share Trust
acquired 286,736 ordinary shares in the Company ("Shares") on 23rd March, 2007
at an average price of 1041p per Share. These Shares will be used in due course
to satisfy options and awards under the Company's employee share schemes.

Following the acquisition of these Shares, the Trustee now holds 1,989,093 
Shares. The executive directors of the Company are for Companies Act purposes
deemed to be interested in all of these Shares.





Robin Sellers                                         26th March 2007
Company Secretary


020 7655 3100



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