Sale of Hygena Cuisines

MFI Furniture Group PLC
14 February 2006


14 February 2006
                        MFI FURNITURE GROUP PLC ('MFI')
                           SALE OF HYGENA CUISINES SA

The Board of MFI announces that it has completed the sale of its French retail
business, Hygena Cuisines SA, to Nobia AB for total gross cash proceeds (before
expenses) of €135 million (approximately £92m).

The decision to sell Hygena Cuisines is part of the strategic review of the
Group's business being conducted by Matthew Ingle following his appointment as
Chief Executive in October 2005. As part of this review, the Board has decided
to focus resources on its core UK operations, in particular the continued growth
of Howden Joinery and the recovery of Retail. The sale to Nobia follows a
competitive auction process, managed for MFI by Cazenove, in which keen interest
was expressed in Hygena Cuisines by a number of parties. The cash proceeds will
be applied to reducing the Group's bank debt.

The transaction has received the support of the Hygena Cuisines Works Council
and the business will continue to be managed by Hygena's current management
team.

As part of the agreement reached with Nobia, MFI will continue to supply Hygena
Cuisines with kitchen furniture products for a term of 3 years after completion.
MFI has also agreed to provide certain information technology services to Hygena
Cuisines for a limited period of time until the transition in ownership and
systems has been assured.

In addition to the business of Hygena Cuisines, Nobia is acquiring the ownership
of the Hygena trademark in continental Europe. MFI's ability in due course to
expand the Howden Joinery business outside the UK is unaffected. Howdens
currently operates 12 depots in France through Houdan Menuiseries SA.

In the year ended 31st December 2005, Hygena Cuisines reported audited turnover
of €195.2 million and profit before tax of €8.0 million. The gross assets being
sold amounted to €83 million as at 31st December 2005.

Commenting on the sale, Matthew Ingle, MFI Chief Executive, said:

'This is an excellent deal for MFI and for the employees and customers of Hygena
Cuisines. We are very proud of what the business has achieved under our
ownership and I am confident that it will continue to flourish as part of Nobia.
The sale and cash receipt strengthen our ability to focus our efforts on the
recovery and growth of the Group here in the UK.'

Fredrik Cappelen, President and CEO of Nobia, said:

'This is an important strategic move for Nobia. By acquiring Hygena's extensive
operations, we will strengthen our foothold in Continental Europe, while
establishing a solid platform for growth in the French market. To control the
sales points is an important part of our strategy and this deal brings the grand
total of directly operated stores to 695. In addition the acquisition of Hygena
increases the synergy potential within Nobia.'


Enquiries

Investors:

Mark Robson            MFI Furniture Group        020 7404 5959 (today only)
Gary Rawlinson                                    07898 397 527

Media:

Susan Gilchrist        Brunswick                  020 7404 5959
Fiona Laffan
Anna Jones


Notes to Editors:

Euro consideration converted at Euro1.46/£

Hygena Cuisines SA is one of France's leading specialist retailers of kitchen
and bathroom interiors with 138 directly operated stores throughout France.
Headquartered in Lille, Hygena has over 900 employees.

Nobia is one of Europe's leading kitchen interiors company with sales of
approximately SEK 12 billion and around 6,700 employees. The Group owns a number
of well-known brands with strong positions in the Nordic countries, the United
Kingdom, Austria, and Germany.







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