EPT Disclosure

RNS Number:5557W
Numis Securities Limited
06 January 2006


                                                                       FORM 38.5



                 DEALINGS BY CONNECTED EXEMPT PRINCIPAL TRADERS
             (Rule 38.5 of the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers)



1.         KEY INFORMATION


Name of exempt principal trader                Numis Securities Limited

Company dealt in                               Thorntons PLC

Class of relevant security to which the        Ordinary shares 10p
dealings being disclosed relate (Note 1)

Date of dealing                                5 January 06






2.            DEALINGS (Note 2)



(a)            Purchases and sales


Total number of securities purchased   Highest price paid (Note 3)           Lowest price paid (Note 3)




4,333                                  156.5 Pence                           156 Pence




Total number of securities sold        Highest price received (Note 3)       Lowest price received (Note 3)




1,000                                  160 Pence                             159 Pence



(b)            Derivatives transactions (other than options)


Product name,         Long/short (Note 4)       Number of securities (Note 5)        Price per unit (Note 3)
e.g. CFD


Nil                   Nil                       Nil                                  Nil



(c)            Options transactions in respect of existing securities

(i)            Writing, selling, purchasing or varying


Product name,        Writing, selling, Number of securities Exercise   Type, e.g.     Expiry     Option money
                     purchasing,       to which the option             American,      date       paid/received per
e.g. call option     varying etc.      relates (Note 5)     price      European etc.             unit (Note 3)



Nil                    Nil                      Nil                                Nil



(ii)            Exercising


Product name, e.g. call option         Number of securities                  Exercise price per unit (Note 3)




Nil                                    Nil                                   Nil





3.            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.


N/A










Date of disclosure                                        6 January 2006

Contact name                                              Henry Jenkins

Telephone number                                          0207 776 1584

Name of offeree/offeror with which connected              Thorntons Plc

Nature of connection (Note 6)                             Broker to the Offeree






Notes



The Notes on Form 38.5 can be viewed on the Takeover Panel's website at
www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk










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

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