Demerger Update

Kingfisher PLC
14 April 2003


14 April 2003


                             KINGFISHER CONFIRMS PROGRESS ON THE DEMERGER
                                     OF ITS ELECTRICALS BUSINESS

Kingfisher plc has today announced the appointment of David Newlands as Chairman of its Electricals
business, which it expects to de-merge and float onto the London Stock Exchange during the Group's
second quarter ending 31 July 2003.  The name of the new company will be KESA Electricals plc (KESA)
and it will also have a secondary listing in Paris.

Mr Newlands, who is Chairman of Tomkins plc, will work with KESA's Chief Executive Jean-Noel Labroue
to recruit further non-executive directors to the new company's board, which will also include Finance
Director Martin Reavley, as previously announced.

KESA operates 650 stores in seven countries and is Europe's third largest electrical retailer.  As
well as holding the leading position in France with Darty and BUT and the number two position in the
UK through Comet, it enjoys leading positions in Belgium, the Czech Republic and Slovakia.  Sales for
the year to 1 February 2003 were around £3.9 billion, with retail profit of £160 million.

Kingfisher has made a separate and simultaneous announcement today regarding the capital structure and
the exceptional charges and costs associated with de-merging KESA.

Kingfisher Chairman Francis Mackay said: 'The demerger of KESA remains very much on track and I am
delighted that David has agreed to become Chairman of the new company.  I am certain that the clarity
and focus that will follow demerger will benefit shareholders, staff and customers alike.'

David Newlands said: 'I am looking forward to joining KESA, one of the leading forces in European
electrical retailing with three particularly strong brands in Darty, Comet and BUT and a great
management team.'


                                                -ends-

                                           Notes to Editors

1.  David Newlands, 56, was born in Edinburgh.  He joined Deloitte & Touche in London in 1963 and
became a partner in 1977.  He joined Saatchi & Saatchi plc in 1986 as group finance director.  Between
1989 and 1997 he was group finance director of GEC.  He is non-executive chairman of Tomkins plc and a
non-executive director of Standard Life Assurance, The Weir Group PLC, and several private companies.


2.  Kingfisher is Europe's leading home improvement retailer.  With more than 600 home improvement
stores in 12 countries Kingfisher is the world's most international home improvement retailer,
enjoying market-leading positions in the UK, France, Poland and Taiwan.  Sales for the Home
Improvement sector for the year to 1 February 2003 were over £6.7 billion, with retail profit of more
than £534 million.

Broker and Institutional Enquiries
Loraine Woodhouse, Head of IR, UK & USA                                           [phone]
Frederique Lepelletier, Head of IR, Continental Europe                            [phone]

Media Enquiries
Jonathan Miller, Head of Corporate Comms, UK                                      [phone]
Graham Fairbank, Head of Corporate Comms, France                                 [phone]

Kingfisher plc                                                                    [phone]
Kingfisher website                                                                  www.kingfisher.com




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