Disposal

Kingfisher PLC 28 January 2002 KINGFISHER PLC SELLS TIME RETAIL FINANCE Kingfisher plc announces today (28th January 2002) that it is selling its financial services operation, Time Retail Finance Limited, to GE Capital Bank Limited for a consideration of £149 million (based on the balance sheet of 31st January 2001) payable in cash on completion, together with the repayment of inter-company debt. Completion is expected to take place on 31st January 2002 and is subject to the wind-down of existing securitisation. The sale proceeds will be used to reduce Kingfisher's borrowings. B&Q and Comet have entered into agreements with GE Capital for the provision of financial services to their retail operations. This will enable B&Q and Comet to provide a wider range of leading edge financial products and services to their customers. In addition, the partnership with GE Capital represents an opportunity for B&Q and Comet to benefit from increased volumes of credit sales. Commenting on the disposal, Kingfisher Chief Executive Sir Geoff Mulcahy, said: 'The sale of Time Retail Finance will allow Kingfisher to reduce its borrowings while crystallizing value for our shareholders. This is another step taken during a year of delivery that has left us with a strengthened balance sheet and focussed on our core retailing strengths.' -ends- Notes to editors • Time Retail Finance was established in 1988 to provide credit within the Kingfisher group of retail companies. Since then, it has developed external partnerships with other retailers, complementing Kingfisher's own retail brands. Timecard (the consumer product brand) currently has over 1.1 million active card holders. • Time Retail Finance is based in Leeds and employs 90 people (as at 31 December 2001). • For the 12 months ended 31 January 2001, Time Retail Finance had a turnover of £77.4 million and profit before tax of £4.9 million. • Kingfisher is one of Europe's leading retailers, operating in the international Home Improvement, Electrical and Furniture markets. More than half of the Group's turnover arises outside the UK, making it the UK's most international retailer. Kingfisher employs more than 90,000 people in over 1,300 stores across 16 countries and includes some of the best known retail brands in Europe, including B&Q, Castorama, Comet, Darty, and BUT. For further information: Kingfisher plc Broker and Institutional Enquiries Ian Harding, Director of Investor Relations +44 (0)20 7725 4889 Media Enquiries Jonathan Miller, Head of External Relations +44 (0)20 7725 5713 France Graham Fairbank, Head of Corporate Comms (France) +33 (0)1 43 18 52 26 Kingfisher Website www.kingfisher.com Kingfisher plc +44 (0)20 7724 7749 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

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Kingfisher (KGF)
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