AGM Statement

RNS Number:4278R
Thorntons PLC
29 October 2003



Not for release before 11:00am Wednesday 29 October

                                                                 29 October 2003

                                  Thorntons PLC

                        Annual General Meeting Statement


John Thornton, Chairman of Thorntons PLC, will update today's AGM with the
following information:


"On the 15th October we announced that there had been preliminary discussions
with a private equity house that may or may not lead to an offer for the
Company. We also advised that certain of the executive directors had been
granted permission to evaluate potential sources of finance to enable the
company to be taken private.

Since that announcement I can report that a number of additional preliminary
approaches have been received from interested parties independent of the
management team. Shareholders will be kept informed as and when there is any
material development."


He will also update the meeting on recent trading as follows:


"Since our Preliminary Results Announcement in September we have seen some
improvement in the trend of own shop like for likes. The outcome for the first
half-year will, as always, depend upon Christmas trading. We continue to gain
new product listings in other retailers as part of our strategy to widen product
distribution outside our own shop estate."



For further information, please contact:

John Jackson - Non Executive Director, Thorntons PLC        07774 193033

Nick Harvey - Ingenious Corporate Finance Limited           020 7024 3666

James Fenwick - Rothschild                                  0113 200 1918

Charles Ryland / Catherine Miles / Tim Anderson - Buchanan        
Communications                                              020 7466 5000



                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

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