EMM Disclosure

RNS Number:1929T
Numis Securities Limited
12 December 2003


                                                             FORM 38.5 (SUMMARY)



Lodge with a Regulatory Information Service and the Panel. Use a separate form
for each class of securities in which dealings have been made.



                        CONNECTED EXEMPT MARKET- MAKERS:
      DISCLOSURE UNDER RULE 38.5 OF THE CITY CODE ON TAKEOVERS AND MERGERS



Name of EMM             Numis Securities Limited............................


Date of disclosure      12 December 2003....................................


Contact Name            HGE Jenkins.........................................


Telephone Number        0207 776 1584..........................................





Please see attached disclosure of dealings under Rule 38.5 in the securities of
the following companies:



Thorntons Plc Ord 10p - Ordinary Shares.



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AMENDMENT



If the attached Rule 38.5 disclosure is to amend a previous disclosure, please
state which element(s) of the previous disclosure was incorrect:



Not Applicable.................................................................



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In the case of option business or dealings in derivatives full details should be
given on a separate sheet so that the nature of the dealings can be fully
understood. For options this should include the number of securities under
option, the exercise period (or in the case of exercise, the exercise date), the
exercise price and any option money paid or received. For derivatives this
should include, at least, the number of reference securities to which they
relate (when relevant), the maturity date (or if applicable the closing out
date) and the reference price.



For full details of disclosure requirements see Rules 8 and 38 of the code. If
in doubt contact the Monitoring Section of the Panel, Tel No: 0207 638 0129.



CONNECTED EXEMPT MARKET-MAKERS:
DISCLOSURE UNDER RULE 38.5 OF THE CITY CODE ON TAKEOVERS AND MERGERS





Dealing in         Thorntons Plc.................(Name of company)


Class of security      Ordinary shares 10 pence..............................


Date of disclosure   12 December 2003...........................................


Date of dealing        11 December 2003.......................................


Name of EMM       Numis Securities Limited.................................


Name of offeree /offeror with whom connected...Thorntons Plc ............




Total number of securities purchased                  2,500

Highest price paid*                                   151 pence

Lowest price paid*.                                   150 pence



Total number of securities sold                       NIL

Highest price received*.                              NIL

Lowest price received*                                NIL





*Currency must be stated


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

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