Debenhams PLC

              Results of Court Meeting and Debenhams EGM

Debenhams plc ("Debenhams" or the "Company") announces that the required
majorities of Debenhams Shareholders voted today in favour of the Scheme to
implement the acquisition of the Company by Baroness Retail at 470 pence per
Debenhams Share.

At the Court Meeting, 87.2 per cent. of Scheme Shareholders who voted (either in
person or by proxy), representing 99.6 per cent. by value, voted in favour of
the Scheme Proposals. At the Debenhams EGM, the necessary resolution was passed
as a special resolution with 99.5 per cent. of shares voting on a poll in favour
of the resolution. The number of Debenhams Shareholders present in person at the
meetings represented 0.2 per cent. of the total number of Debenhams Shareholders
and they held less than 0.2 per cent. of the issued share capital of the
Company.

Approval of the Scheme required a majority of over 50 per cent. in number of
Scheme Shareholders who vote, representing not less than 75 per cent. of the
value of the Scheme Shares voted, to vote in favour of the Scheme Proposals at
the Court Meeting (either in person or by proxy). In addition, a special
resolution had to be passed at the Debenhams EGM to approve and give effect to
the Scheme and associated reduction of capital.

In order to become effective, the Court must sanction the Scheme at the first
hearing scheduled for 28 November, 2003, and subsequently sanction the
associated reduction of capital at the second court hearing scheduled for 2
December, 2003. Subject to both Court approvals, the Scheme is expected to
become effective on 4 December, 2003.

Expected timetable of principal events

First Hearing Date (to sanction the Scheme)                         28 November*

Hearing Record Time                                     6.00 p.m. on 1 December*

Second Hearing Date (to sanction the reduction of capital)           2 December*

Last day of dealings in Debenhams Shares                             3 December*

Scheme Record Time                                      6.00 p.m. on 3 December*

Effective Date of the Scheme                                         4 December*

Delisting of Debenhams Shares                           7.30 a.m. on 5 December*

Latest date for despatch of cheques                                 18 December*

* These dates are indicative only and will depend, inter alia, on the dates upon
which the Court sanctions the Scheme and the associated reduction of capital and
whether the conditions of the Revised Offer are either satisfied or waived.

Note: the defined words and terms used in this announcement shall have the
meanings given to them in the original and revised scheme documents.

Enquiries:

For Debenhams:
Joanna George                       Debenhams                   020 7408 3459
Andrew Grant/Kirstie Hamilton       Tulchan Communications      020 7353 4200

For Baroness Retail:
Sue Pemberton/Chris Barrie          Citigate Dewe Rogerson      020 7638 9571