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              BPB PLC
Class of relevant security    ORD GBP 0.50
to which the dealings being
disclosed relate (Note 2)
Date of dealing               13 DECEMBER 2005
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          18,378,018   (3.66%)           0     (0.00%)
securities
(2) Derivatives                0   (0.00%)     861,937     (0.17%)
(other than
options)
(3) Options and                0   (0.00%)           0     (0.00%)
agreements to
purchase/sell
Total                 18,378,018   (3.66%)     861,937     (0.17%)
(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)
Sale          14,700               7.7360
 (b) Derivatives transactions (other than options)
Product    Long/Short    Number of Securities  Price Per
name,      (Note 6)      (Note 7)              Unit (GBP)
e.g. CFD
CFD        Long          14,700                7.7360
(c)  Options transactions in respect of existing securities
(i)  Writing, selling, purchasing or varying
Product   Writing,    Number of    Exerc Type,      Expi  Option
name,     selling,    securities   ise   e.g.       ry    money
e.g. call purchasing  to which     price American,  date  paid/recei
option    , varying   the option         European         ved per
          etc.        relates            etc.             unit (Note
                      (Note 7)                            5)
                                                          
(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
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                         14 DECEMBER 2005
Contact name                               BARCLAYS CORPORATE SECRETARIAT
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