Rule 8.3 - THORNTONS 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 THORNTONS PLC Class of relevant security ORD GBP 0.10 to which the dealings being disclosed relate (Note 2) Date of dealing 20 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 2,540,424 (3.81%) 0 (0.00%) securities (2) Derivatives 0 (0.00%) 0 (0.00%) (other than options) (3) Options and 0 (0.00%) 0 (0.00%) agreements to purchase/sell Total 2,540,424 (3.81%) 0 (0.00%) (b) Interests and short positions in relevant securities of the company, other than the class dealt in (Note 3) Class of relevant Long Short 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 5,000 1.5600 (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 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 (Note varying etc. relates (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 21 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

Companies

Barclays (BARC)
UK 100