Statement re Court Hearing

RNS Number:8251V
Somerfield PLC
16 December 2005


                         SOMERFIELD PLC ("SOMERFIELD")

                         RESULT OF FIRST COURT HEARING

The Board of Somerfield is pleased to announce that at a hearing held earlier
today, the Court sanctioned the Scheme by which the recommended acquisition of
Somerfield by Violet Acquisitions Limited is to be effected.

The acquisition remains subject to the confirmation of the Capital Reduction by
the Court on 20 December 2005 and to the delivery of the Court Orders
sanctioning the Scheme and confirming the Capital Reduction to the Registrar of
Companies and, in respect of the Capital Reduction, the registration of the
Court Order.

As previously announced, trading in Somerfield Shares on the London Stock
Exchange's market for listed securities and the listing of the Somerfield Shares
on the Official List of the UK Listing Authority will be suspended from 7.30 am
on 19 December 2005. Subject to the Court confirming the Capital Reduction on 20
December 2005, the listing of the Somerfield Shares will be cancelled with
effect from 8.00 a.m. on 21 December 2005.

The directors of Somerfield accept responsibility for the information contained
in this announcement. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the Somerfield
directors (who have taken all reasonable care to ensure that such is the case),
the information contained in this announcement is in accordance with the facts
and does not omit anything likely to affect the import of such information.

Terms used in this announcement have the same meanings as set out in
Somerfield's circular to shareholders dated 4 November 2005.


Enquiries:

Cardew Group                                                       020 7930 0777
Anthony Cardew
Nadja Vetter


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