Rule 8.1 - SOMERFIELD PLC

FORM 8.1
           DEALINGS BY OFFERORS, OFFEREE COMPANIES OR THEIR ASSOCIATES
                   FOR THEMSELVES OR FOR DISCRETIONARY CLIENTS
       (Rules 8.1(a) and (b)(i) of the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers)


1.   KEY INFORMATION

Name of person dealing (Note 1)            BARCLAYS PLC
Company dealt in                           SOMERFIELD PLC
Class of relevant security to which the    ORD GBP 0.10
dealings being disclosed relate (Note 2)
Date of dealing                            01 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 securities                    65,699,918     (11.96%)

(2) Derivatives (other than options)                                         1,038,364         (0.19%)

(3) Options and agreements to
purchase/sell

Total                                      65,699,918     (11.96%)           1,038,364         (0.19%)


(b)  Interests and short positions in relevant securities of the company, other
     than the class dealt in (Note 3)

Class of relevant security:                            Long                           Short

                                           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 (Note 5)

Purchase                            50,620                            Transfer In
Sale                                247,758                           1.9575
Sale                                340,738                           1.9575



     These trades have taken place as a result of the reorganisation of certain
     funds on behalf of discretionary fund manager clients. The Panel Executive
     has informed Barclays PLC on an ex parte basis that such transactions are
     permitted and have no Code consequences.




(b)  Derivatives transactions (other than options)

Product name,       Long/short (Note 6)     Number of securities (Note 7)    Price per unit (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 option    selling,        securities to       price     American,     date      paid/received
                    purchasing,     which the option              European                per unit (Note
                    varying etc.    relates (Note 7)              etc.                    5)



(ii) Exercising

Product name, e.g. call option      Number of securities              Exercise price per unit (Note 5)





(d)  Other dealings (including new securities) (Note 4)

Nature of transaction (Note 8)      Details                           Price per unit (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                                          02 DECEMBER 2005
Contact name                                                BARCLAYS CORPORATE SECRETARIAT
Telephone number                                            020 7116 2913
Name of offeree/offeror with which associated               VIOLET ACQUISITIONS LIMITED
Specify category and nature of associate status (Note 10)


Notes

The Notes on Form 8.1 can be viewed on the Takeover Panel's website at
www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk