Rule 8.3 - BOOTS GROUP PLC

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 BOOTS GROUP PLC Class of relevant security ORD GBP 0.25 to which the dealings being disclosed relate (Note 2) Date of dealing 27 MARCH 2006 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 20,445,675 (4.21%) 1,361,418 (0.28%) securities (2) Derivatives 848,071 (0.17%) 141,710 (0.03%) (other than options) (3) Options and 3,481 (0.00%) 1,425,438 (0.29%) agreements to purchase/sell Total 21,297,227 (4.38%) 2,928,566 (0.60%) (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) Purchase 1,087 7.2157 Purchase 7,489 7.2000 Purchase 500 7.1657 Sale 61,798 7.1725 Sale 140,779 7.1350 Sale 437 7.1615 Sale 652 7.1915 Sale 403 7.1621 Sale 739 7.1659 Sale 268 7.1659 Sale 329 7.1715 Sale 1,237 7.1528 Sale 2,700 7.1600 Sale 10,202 7.1484 Sale 8,020 7.1336 (b) Derivatives transactions (other than options) Product Long/Short Number of Price Per name, (Note 6) Securities Unit (GBP) e.g. CFD (Note 7) CFD Long 10,202 7.1484 CFD Long 2,700 7.1600 CFD Long 8,020 7.1336 CFD Short 500 7.1657 (c) Options transactions in respect of existing securities (i) Writing, selling, purchasing or varying Product name, Writing, Number of Exercise Type, e.g. Expiry Option money e.g. call selling, securities to price American, date paid/received option purchasing, which the option European etc. per unit (GBP) varying etc. relates (GBP) (ii) Exercising Product name, e.g. Number of Exercise price per call option securities unit (GBP) (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 29 MARCH 2006 Contact name BARCLAYS COMPLIANCE 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

Companies

Barclays (BARC)
UK 100