EMM Disclosure

RNS Number:9172N
HSBC Bank PLC.
24 July 2003

                                                             FORM 38.5 (SUMMARY)

Lodge with Company Announcements Office 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                                   HSBC Bank Plc

Date of Disclosure                            24 July 2003

Contact Name                                  Leon Passey

Telephone Number                              0207 991 6187


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



Safeway plc

WPP Group plc




AMENDMENT

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



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 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 derivative
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 the disclosure requirements see Rules 8 and 38 of the Code.
If in doubt contact the Monitoring Section of the Panel, Tel. No: 020 7638 0129



FORM 38.5

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

Dealing in                                                  Safeway plc

Class of Security                                           Ordinary Shares

Date of Disclosure                                          24 July 2003

Date of Dealing                                             23 July 2003

Name of EMM                                                 HSBC Bank Plc

Name of Offeree/Offeror with whom connected                 Safeway plc

Total Number of securities purchased                        1,000

Highest price paid*                                         260p

Lowest price paid*                                          260p

Total number of securities sold                             0

Highest price received*                                     0p

Lowest price received*                                      0p

* Currency must be stated



FORM 38.5

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

Dealing in                                                  WPP Group plc

Class of Security                                           Ordinary Shares

Date of Disclosure                                          24 July 2003

Date of Dealing                                             23 July 2003

Name of EMM                                                 HSBC Bank Plc

Name of Offeree/Offeror with whom connected                 WPP Group plc

Total Number of securities purchased                        25,793

Highest price paid*                                         520p

Lowest price paid*                                          517.50p

Total number of securities sold                             25,364
Highest price received*                                     520.65p
Lowest price received*                                      515.45p

* Currency must be stated


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