Offer Update

Kingfisher PLC
28 August 2002


28 August 2002

Not for release, distribution or publication in whole or in part into or in the 
United States, Canada, Australia, Ireland, Japan or South Africa

                          CMF APPROVAL ENABLES KINGFISHER

                     TO ASSUME MANAGEMENT CONTROL OF CASTORAMA

Following approval from the Conseil des marches financiers ('CMF') for
Kingfisher's cash offer for the minority shareholding in Castorama Dubois
Investissements SCA ('Castorama') that it does not already own, the Group has
now acquired control of Castorama under Article 21 of the company's articles. A
meeting of the conseil de gerance of Castorama has been convened for 2 September
2002 in order to implement this change of control to the management of
Castorama.

Sir Geoff Mulcahy, Kingfisher's Chief Executive, said :


'We are delighted by the decision of the CMF which represents a crucial step in
the on-going process.  In line with the 1998 agreement, the publication of the
avis by the CMF allows us to assume effective control of Castorama.'

Kingfisher will proceed with its formal offer to the minority shareholders of
Castorama, under the terms which have been previously announced of euros 67 per
share, immediately following receipt of approval by the Commission des
operations de bourse, which is expected shortly.

As previously stated, in the event that Kingfisher holds at least 95% of the
voting rights in Castorama at the end of the offer, Kingfisher will consider
whether to make a public offer (offre publique de retrait) followed, as the case
may be, by a compulsory acquisition offer for the Castorama shares then held by
the public. Following the offer and depending on its outcome, Castorama shares
may be delisted from the premier marche of Euronext Paris, subject to the
financial and legal conditions applicable to such a delisting being satisfied.


                               ends


Company profile

Kingfisher is Europe's leading home improvement retailer, and is ranked number
three in the world. The company operates more than 580 home improvement stores
in 11 countries, and enjoys market-leading positions in the UK, France and
Taiwan. Sales for the Home Improvement sector for the year to 2 February 2002
were more than £5.8 billion, with retail profit in excess of £430 million.

Kingfisher Electricals & Furniture operates more than 820 stores in nine
countries. It is Europe's third largest electricals retailing business by sales
and number two by retail profit. As well as holding the leading position in
France and the number two position in the UK, Kingfisher also enjoys leading
positions in Belgium and in the Czech and Slovak Republics.  Sales for the year
to 2 February 2002 were more than £3.7 billion, with retail profit of £184
million.



Further Enquiries:

Broker and Institutional Enquiries:
Ian Harding, Director of Investor Relations                 [phone]

Media Enquiries:
Andrew Mills, Director of Corporate Affairs                 [phone]
Jonathan Miller, Head of Corporate Comms, UK                [phone]

France
Graham Fairbank, Head of Corporate Comms                   [phone]

The Maitland Consultancy:                                   [phone]
Angus Maitland
Duncan Campbell-Smith

Euro RSCG C&O:
Laurent Wormser                                            [phone]
Marie-Noelle Brouaux                                       [phone]

Goldman Sachs International                                 [phone]

Yoel Zaoui
Robin Bishop

BNP Paribas:
Thierry Varene                                             [phone]






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