Debenhams PLC - Re Alliance

RNS Number:0948K
Debenhams PLC
5 May 2000



DEBENHAMS PLC AND EXPRESS NEWSPAPERS ANNOUNCE

LIFESTYLE E-COMMERCE ALLIANCE


Debenhams plc, Britain's favourite department store, and
Express Group Newspapers, a division of United News &
Media plc, have today announced an agreement to develop
an e-commerce alliance.  The Express will contribute pre-
eminent editorial content and Debenhams will provide the
merchandise for a series of lifestyle based web sites.
Both parties' existing web sites will be connected to the
new sites.

The Express will launch the relationship with Debenhams
on www.AllAboutParents.com, the first in a series of new
Internet web sites dedicated to lifestyle issues from its
specialised Express Online Division.  The new web site is
scheduled for launch in early July with around 1000
articles covering everything from pre-pregnancy tips to
post-school choices with the wit and verve of an
experienced 50-strong editorial team.

Debenhams.com already features a comprehensive range of
merchandise for all the family and Debenhams was the
first UK department store to launch an on-line Wedding
gift service. Debenhams has an existing mail order joint
venture with Freemans, "Debenhams Direct", which also
facilitates its existing UK Internet fulfilment.

Peter Kaursland, Managing Director of Debenhams plc
commented:

"We are delighted to announce this alliance with Express
Group Newspapers. This innovative concept sees the
creation of a major Internet site, where both parties are
bringing together established UK brands to help provide
parents and families with key information and products."

Terry Green, Chief Executive of Debenhams plc commented:

"Our Internet strategy, as stated at the Interim results,
is to develop a series of solutions based portals in
conjunction with strategic partners such as Express Group
Newspapers.  Our powerful e-commerce formula will enable
us maximise our established strengths and quantum leap
our presence on the Internet."

Andy Jonesco, Managing Director of Express Newspapers
said of the alliance:

"There has been a lot of talk about the contextualisation
of e-commerce.  We are delighted that this content-
commerce alliance will allow both parties to be at the
cutting edge of this development.  As a result of this
alliance, Express Online's 'AllAboutParents.com' will
seamlessly integrate relevant, value for money items and
exclusive offers from Debenhams into a rich information
resource for today's parents.  The deal allows both
parties to use their offline and online clout to build a
profitable e-commerce business whilst at the same time
ensuring consumer choice and value."

For further information:

Debenhams:
Joanna Lane-Jones - Head of Corporate Communications
020 7408 3459


Express Newspapers:
David Lilley - Head of Commercial
020 7922 7119


Notes to editors:


Debenhams plc launched a fully transactional web site,
Debenhams.com, in October 1999. Since then the site has
been voted the best retail web site operated by a high-
street retailer in the "1999 On-line Shopping Report" and
the top fashion and beauty web site by "Internet
Monthly". In addition, its on-line Wedding gift service
was recently voted "Customer Initiative of the Year" at
the Retail Week Awards.

Debenhams is developing a series of solutions based
portals in conjunction with a number of strategic
partners such as Express Group Newspapers. Each portal
will provide its customers with a range of merchandise,
content and services. In April 2000, it announced that it
was in advanced discussions with WeddingChannel.com, the
leading US wedding service operator, to create a
strategic partnership to enhance its existing wedding
service in the UK and expand into the European market.


Express Newspapers publishes the Daily Express -
celebrating its first 100 years as a leading British
daily paper - the Sunday Express and Star Newspapers as
well as delivering editorial content online with
expressnewspapers.co.uk and megastar.co.uk.

United News & Media plc is a focused international media
group with leading positions in both consumer and
business-to-business markets.

United recently announced extensive plans to drive
forward its existing Internet businesses and to
accelerate development of those United assets with
significant web potential.  United's objective is to
achieve leadership in its core selected markets, such as
high-tech business-to-business publishing and medical,
offering its customers market-leading media solutions in
both offline and online.

A new media division has been created to drive forward
this strategy and to maximise the considerable online
opportunities that exist across the group and #370
million has been allocated by United for online
development over the next two years.  The objective is to
leverage the strength of its leading brands and their
unrivalled content in TV, national newspapers, and
business services into exciting online businesses such as
LineOne, Megastar, dotmusic and uTravel.

United is also engaged on a focused disposal programme of
those businesses which have been identified as non-core.
VCG, its stock photography business was recently sold for
$220m, while the marketing of its US consumer publishing
business is underway.  Active marketing of the non-core
Miller Freeman businesses in the US and Continental
Europe is imminent.


For further information contact:

John Hodges - 020 7408 3181

Name of authorised company official responsible for
 making
this notification:

John Hodges - Deputy Company Secretary


Debenhams plc.  Registered in England.  Company No.
3430071
Registered Office: 1 Welbeck Street, London W1A 1DF




END

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