Acquisition of shares by ESOT

Close Brothers Group PLC
24 October 2005






Close Brothers Group plc (the "Company") announces that Bedell Cristin Trustees
Limited (the "Trustee") as Trustee of the Close Brothers Group Employee Share
Trust acquired 154,279 ordinary shares in the Company ("Shares") on 21st October
2005 at an average price of 751.33 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 1,228,810
Shares. The executive directors of the Company are for Companies Act purposes
deemed to be interested in all these Shares.


Robin Sellers                                            24th October 2005
Company Secretary

020 7655 3100



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