Re Joint Venture

Marks & Spencer Group PLC
29 February 2008

Issued: 29 February 2008


             Marks and Spencer Group plc enters into joint venture
         with Marinopoulos Group to expand in Greece and Balkan states

Marks and Spencer Group plc (Marks & Spencer) has acquired 50 per cent of Marks
& Spencer Marinopoulos BV which operates 38 Marks & Spencer stores in Greece, a
number of Balkan states, including Romania and Bulgaria, and Switzerland for €50
million cash (£38 million).  The joint venture plans to open up to 50 new stores
in these markets 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.

The Marinopoulos Group, one of Greece's leading private sector companies, has
been a partner of Marks & Spencer for 30 years and has exclusive rights to
operate Marks & Spencer stores in Greece, Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia, Croatia,
Slovenia and Switzerland under a franchise agreement.  It also has rights to
operate in Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia, Albania and Montenegro where, currently, there are no Marks & Spencer
stores. Marks & Spencer has purchased 50 per cent of the share capital of Marks
& Spencer Marinopoulos BV from Marinopoulos Holding SARL, through its
wholly-owned subsidiary Marks and Spencer International Holdings Limited.


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

'We have an exciting opportunity to open many more Marks & Spencer stores in
Greece and the Balkans and our joint venture with Marinopoulos will mean we can
really put M&S on the map in this part of the world. In Greece, we already have
a solid platform to build on and there is a growing demand for great quality,
good value M&S products in markets like Romania and Bulgaria.  We have worked
with Marinopoulos for over 30 years and their retail expertise and local
knowledge make them the ideal partner for us.'


Stefanos Marinopoulos said:

'We are very happy to have concluded this joint venture agreement with Marks &
Spencer, which complements our model of development with major international
retailers in our region. We strongly believe in the growth potential of Marks &
Spencer as a leader in clothing and home products.'

                                     -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.

Marinopoulos Brothers is a privately held leading group based in Greece and
operating in 10 countries in Central and South East Europe. including the Balkan
states, through its joint ventures with Carrefour, Starbucks, Sephora (a
division of LVMH), Fnac (a division of PPR) and Grand Optical. Famar, the
industrial arm of the group, headquartered in Greece and France, is a leading
European contract manufacturer for major pharmaceutical companies with 11
manufacturing sites across Western Europe. www.marinopoulos.com

Contact

M&S press office (UK):
Clair Foster - 44 (0) 208 718 8323 / 07748 147851 / Dan Masser - 44 (0) 208 718 1967 /07826 905220

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

Marinopoulos Group
Kimon Antypas, Publicis Consultants | Athens - tel.: + 30 210 27 11 721 / Mobile : [phone]




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