Offer Update

Kingfisher PLC
21 August 2002



For immediate release
21st 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


KINGFISHER SEEKS FRENCH STOCK MARKET APPROVAL FOR

CASTORAMA MINORITY OFFER

Kingfisher plc, in accordance with French takeover offer rules, is today filing
with the French stock market regulators (Conseil des marches financiers and
Commission des operations de bourse), for the approval of its formal cash offer
for the minority shareholding in Castorama Dubois Investissements SCA
('Castorama') that it does not already own.  A resume of the offer document has
also been published in today's edition of La Tribune.

Under Article 21 of Castorama's articles, Kingfisher (through its wholly-owned
subsidiary, Socodi S.A.R.L.) will acquire a casting vote at meetings of the
executive bodies of Castorama (Assemblee des Commandites and Conseil de Gerance)
giving it effective control of Castorama from the time the Conseil des marches
financiers approves this cash offer by issuing an avis de recevabilite.

Kingfisher expects to proceed to make the formal offer to the minority
shareholders of Castorama, under the terms which have been previously announced
of euros 67 per share, by the end of this month, with cash settlement expected
in mid-October.

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:
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]


                      This information is provided by RNS
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