RNS Number:6170U
HSBC Bank PLC.
26 January 2004

                                                             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                            26 January 2004
Contact Name                                  Sarah Mallon
Telephone Number                              0207 991 6583


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

Safeway plc

W M Morrison Supermarkets plc

Benchmark Group plc

Safeway plc - CFD


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                                          26 January 2004
Date of Dealing                                             23 January 2004
Name of EMM                                                 HSBC Bank Plc
Name of Offeree/Offeror with whom connected                 Safeway plc

Total Number of securities purchased                        184,900
Highest price paid*                                         282p
Lowest price paid*                                          281.71p

Total number of securities sold                             4,000
Highest price received*                                     281.95p
Lowest price received*                                      281.95p

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                                                  W M Morrison Supermarkets plc
Class of Security                                           Ordinary Shares
Date of Disclosure                                          26 January 2004
Date of Dealing                                             23 January 2004
Name of EMM                                                 HSBC Bank Plc
Name of Offeree/Offeror with whom connected                 Safeway plc

Total Number of securities purchased                        12,719
Highest price paid*                                         222.94p
Lowest price paid*                                          222.75p

Total number of securities sold                             4,011
Highest price received*                                     225p
Lowest price received*                                      223p

 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                                                  Benchmark Group plc
Class of Security                                           Ordinary Shares
Date of Disclosure                                          26 January 2004
Date of Dealing                                             23 January 2004
Name of EMM                                                 HSBC Bank Plc
Name of Offeree/Offeror with whom connected                 Benchmark Group plc

Total Number of securities purchased                        92,118
Highest price paid*                                         248p
Lowest price paid*                                          248p

Total number of securities sold                             100,000
Highest price received*                                     248p
Lowest price received*                                      248p

Currency must be stated




                                                                 Rule 38.5 (CFD)


                CONNECTED EXEMPT MARKET-MAKERS/EXEMPT PRINCIPAL TRADERS:

      DISCLOSURE UNDER RULE 38.5 OF THE CITY CODE ON TAKEOVERS AND MERGERS



Dealing in Contract for Differences ("CFD") referenced to...Safeway plc Ordinary
Shares

Date of Disclosure...26 January 2004..........................................
............................

Date of Dealing......23 January 2004...........................................
....................................

Name of EMM/EPT.........HSBC Bank plc...........................................
.............................

Name of offeree / offeror with whom connected .......Safeway plc..............
............

Product Type......Short CFD..... ...............................................
...........................

Maturity Date.........21 January 2005..........................................
..........................



Writing of CFD

Number of Ordinary Shares to which the CFD is referenced ............177,400
.................

CFD reference price................ ...... ... .......... ...GBP 2.816384......
.................. ...........



Closing out of CFD

Number of Ordinary Shares to which the CFD is referenced ......................
................

CFD closing out price........................................................
........................................













Further disclosure should be made where necessary so that the nature of the
dealings can be fully understood.




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

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