Rule 8.1 - SOMERFIELD PLC

FORM 8.1
           DEALINGS BY OFFERORS, OFFEREE COMPANIES OR THEIR ASSOCIATES
                   FOR THEMSELVES OR FOR DISCRETIONARY CLIENTS
       (Rules 8.1(a) and (b)(i) of the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers)


1.   KEY INFORMATION

Name of person dealing (Note  BARCLAYS PLC
1)
Company dealt in              SOMERFIELD PLC
Class of relevant security    ORD GBP 0.10
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 securities        65,710,034      (11.96%)

(2)  Derivatives (other than                               1,038,364       (0.19%)
options)

(3) Options and agreements
to purchase/sell

Total                          65,710,034      (11.96%)    1,038,364       (0.19%)


(b)  Interests and short positions in relevant securities of the company, other
     than the class dealt in (Note 3)

Class of relevant security:           Long                  Short

                              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 (Note 5)

Purchase                 10,116                  1.9625



The above transaction has taken place in connection with BGI's index funds. The
Panel Executive has informed Barclays PLC on an ex parte basis that such
transactions are permitted and have no Code consequences.




(b)  Derivatives transactions (other than options)

Product       Long/short       Number of securities   Price per unit
name,         (Note 6)         (Note 7)               (Note 5)
e.g. CFD




(c)  Options transactions in respect of existing securities

(i)  Writing, selling, purchasing or varying

Product       Writing,    Number of    Exerc   Type,    Expir   Option
name,         selling,    securities   ise     e.g.     y       money
e.g. call     purchasin   to which the price   American date    paid/rece
option        g,          option               ,                ived per
              varying     relates              European         unit
              etc.        (Note 7)             etc.             (Note 5)



(ii) Exercising

Product name, e.g. call  Number of securities    Exercise price per unit
option                                           (Note 5)




(d)  Other dealings (including new securities) (Note 4)

Nature of transaction    Details                 Price per unit (if
(Note 8)                                         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
Name of offeree/offeror with which         VIOLET ACQUISITIONS LIMITED
associated
Specify category and nature of associate
status (Note 10)


Notes

The Notes on Form 8.1 can be viewed on the Takeover Panel's website at
www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk