Acquisition of shares by ESOT

Close Brothers Group PLC
18 March 2008




Close Brothers Group plc (the "Company") announces that Bedell Trustees Limited
(the "Trustee") as Trustee of the Close Brothers Group Employee Share Trust
acquired 100,000 ordinary shares in the Company ("Shares") on 17 March 2008 at
an average price of 550p 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 3,072,753
Shares. The executive directors of the Company are for Companies Act purposes
deemed to be interested in all of these Shares.



Robin Sellers                                                     18 March 2008
Company Secretary

020 7655 3100



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