Re Joint Venture

Marks & Spencer Group PLC
20 March 2008


Issued: 20th March 2008

             Marks and Spencer Group plc enters into joint venture
               with COMS to expand in Central and Eastern Europe


Marks and Spencer Group plc (Marks & Spencer) and franchise partner COMS have
entered into a joint venture, with Marks & Spencer acquiring approximately 51%
of  COMS, a.s. for €13.6m in cash plus deferred consideration of up to €5.2m in
cash based on business performance and the achievement of agreed targets.

COMS, a.s. operates 13 Marks & Spencer stores in the Czech Republic, Slovakia,
Latvia and Lithuania.  The joint venture plans to open around 30 stores in these
markets, together with Estonia, over the next few years.

This announcement is in line with Marks & Spencer's plans to invest in its
existing franchise partners where it will facilitate a faster pace of growth and
greater operating efficiency.  Marks & Spencer plans to grow its international
business to 15-20 per cent of Group revenues within the next five years.

COMS, a.s., one of Eastern Europe's leading private sector companies, has been a
franchise partner of Marks & Spencer since 1996 and has exclusive rights to
operate Marks & Spencer stores in the countries under a franchise agreement.
Marks & Spencer has purchased approximately 51 per cent of the share capital of
COMS, a.s. from Dusan Mrozek and Zbynek Mrozek, through its wholly-owned
subsidiary Marks and Spencer International Holdings Limited.

Carl Leaver, Director of International Business, Marks & Spencer, said:

'There is a great opportunity to open many more Marks & Spencer stores across
Central and Eastern Europe and grow a real presence in the region. The Marks &
Spencer brand is already well-recognised in the Czech Republic and there is
increasing demand for good quality, great value products in markets like
Slovakia. We have worked with the COMS team since 1996 and their retail
expertise and local knowledge make them the ideal partner.'

Dusan Mrozek, Chairman of the Board of Directors, COMS, a.s. said:

'We have worked with Marks & Spencer since 1996 and during that time we have
always felt we've been working with the right partner. We are therefore pleased
that we have successfully completed broader discussions and will now set up a
joint venture. We look forward to expanding our business across the region to
strengthen our market position'.

                                     -Ends-

Notes to editors

Marks & Spencer (M&S) is one of the UK's leading retailers, offering high
quality, great value clothing, as well as home products and outstanding quality
food. M&S employs over 75,000 people and has over 600 stores in the UK and over
275 stores in 39 territories around the world. Marks & Spencer's total Group
revenues for 2006/7 were £8.5bn.  In November 2007 at its interim results, Marks
& Spencer identified significant opportunities to grow its international
business under the leadership of Carl Leaver, its Director of International
Business, targeting a 15-20% contribution to its Group revenues within the next
five years.  At its third quarter sales update on 9 January, Marks & Spencer
announced sales in its international business were up 15.1% (13 weeks to 29
December 2007).

www.marksandspencer.com/thecompany.

COMS, a.s. runs 10 Marks & Spencer stores in the Czech Republic in Prague, Brno,
Karlovy Vary and Ceske Budejovice. In 2007 the company initiated international
expansion with Marks & Spencer store openings in Lithuania and Slovakia. The
international stores are being run by COMS, a.s. via fully owned companies
registered in respective countries. COMS, a.s. offers Czech customers quality
Marks & Spencer fashion, cosmetics, food and consumer goods on 11 000 square
meters of floor space.


Contact details
M&S Corporate Press Office:    [phone]
Out of hours                   [phone]

M&S Investor Relations:
Amanda Mellor                  [phone]
Majda Rainer                   [phone]

M&S Press Office in Czech Republic:
Irena Zatloukalova             00 420 724 442 920, [e-mail]
Milan Kri                      00 420 602 266 316, [e-mail]

COMS press office:
Renata Fiserov                 00 420 603 533 233
                               [e-mail]


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