B share scheme elections

Sainsbury(J) PLC
21 July 2004

21 July 2004


B share scheme elections and redemption of B shares


Further to the announcement made yesterday concerning the B share scheme
elections, the registrars have notified J Sainsbury plc of revised figures.
These revised figures show that shareholders holding in aggregate:

•    320,050,073 B shares (representing 16.47% of the total number of B shares 
     issued, previously announced 319,833,132 shares or 16.46%) chose to receive 
     the initial dividend;

•    1,507,111,647 B shares (representing 77.56% of the total number of B shares 
     issued, previously announced 1,507,109,852 shares or 77.56%) chose to have 
     their B shares redeemed; and

•    116,011,456 B shares (representing 5.97% of the total number of B shares 
     issued, previously announced 116,230,282 shares or 5.98%) have retained 
     their B Shares to be redeemed in the future on 18 January or 18 July in 
     each calendar year until 18 July 2007.


Enquiries:

Investor Relations                    Media
[phone]                  [phone]
Roger Matthews                        Jan Shawe
Lynda Ashton                          Cheryl Kuczynski


Notes:

1.   Payments in respect of B shares redeemed yesterday will be settled through 
     the CREST system today or, for certificated holders, cheques will be
     despatched by no later than Monday 26 July 2004
2.   Cheques will be despatched in respect of initial dividends by no later than 
     Monday 26 July 2004
3.   The next date on which outstanding B shares may be redeemed is 18 January 
     2005
4.   The Company shall be obliged to redeem all B shares remaining in issue on 
     18 July 2007.


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