Incorporated in Co. Reg. No. 192000011H

For Immediate Release

Voluntary conditional cash offer for Robinson & Co. − Robinson to appoint an independent financial adviser in connection with the Offer; − Shareholders are advised to exercise caution and refrain from taking any action in relation to their Shares; and − Meanwhile it is business as usual at Robinson.

Singapore, 21 January 2008 – Mainboard-listed Robinson and Company, Limited (“Robinson” or the

“Company”) today announced that Standard Chartered Bank has, for and on behalf of ALF Global

Private Ltd. (“ALF Global” or the “Offeror”), announced on 20 January 2008 that it intends to make a voluntary conditional cash offer (the “Offer”) for all the issued ordinary shares in the capital of the

Company (the “Shares”) other than those already owned, controlled or agreed to be acquired by the

Offeror (the “Offer Shares”).

ALF Global is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Al-Futtaim Trading Company LLC, which is, in turn, 95 per cent owned by Al-Futtaim Private Company LLC and 5 per cent owned by Al-Futtaim

Company LLC. The Offeror will make the Offer for the Offer Shares on the basis of S$6.25 in cash per

Offer Share. The Offer will be conditional upon the Offeror, and parties acting in concert with it, obtaining more than 50 per cent of the voting rights of the Company by the close of Offer.

As at 20 January 2008, the Offeror has received irrevocable undertakings to accept the Offer from

Silchester International Investors Ltd, Aberdeen Asset Management Asia Limited and Tecity Pte. Ltd, who together own 23.18 per cent of the Company. They will be entitled to withdraw their acceptances of the Offer if, prior to the Offer becoming unconditional in all respects, a competing offer for Shares which satisfies certain prescribed conditions is announced by any third party.

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Commenting on the Offer, Mr Christopher James Williams, Chairman of Robinson said, “The Board notes the voluntary conditional cash offer made by ALF Global. Given Robinson’s position as an established retail icon in Singapore, built on 150 years of heritage and goodwill, it is therefore imperative that the Board evaluates the Offer carefully, giving due consideration to the Offeror’s as yet undisclosed intention in relation to Robinson’s listing status in the event of a successful Offer. The

Board will take into account the interests of all stakeholders when considering the future of the business, with a view towards enhancing the long-term interests of all stakeholders, including investors, staff and customers. We will make the relevant announcement(s) at the appropriate time. Meanwhile, it is business as usual at Robinson.”

The Board of Directors of the Company will be appointing an independent financial adviser (“IFA”) in connection with the Offer. A circular containing the advice of the IFA and the recommendation of the

Independent Directors of the Company will be sent to Robinson shareholders within 14 days from the date of despatch of the offer document to be issued by the Offeror.

In the meantime, Shareholders are advised to exercise caution and refrain from taking any action in relation to their Shares, which may be prejudicial to their interests until they or their advisers have considered the information and the recommendations of the Independent

Directors as well as the advice of the IFA set out in the circular to be issued in due course.

- End -

About Robinson and Company, Limited

The Robinson Group manages eight retail entities that trade under the following brands - Robinsons, John Little, Marks & Spencer, Principles, Trucco, Coast, River Island and Fat Face.

Robinson and Company, the founding company, started trading in Singapore in 1858. In 1955 Robinson and Company acquired John Little, which was established in 1842. Marks & Spencer, which traded under the St. Michael name, first operated in 1958 in a John Little Store. The St. Michael name was officially changed to Marks & Spencer in 1994.

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There are 2 Robinsons stores in Singapore and 1 in Malaysia. The flagship store in Singapore is located at The Centrepoint and the second store is located at Raffles City. The first Robinsons store in Malaysia is located at The Gardens, Mid Valley. All the Robinsons stores in Singapore offer the Principles, Coast and Trucco brands. In addition, Principles, Coast and Trucco are also available in standalone stores. Principles standalone stores are at VivoCity and in Singapore; Coast standalone stores are at The Pavilion and Bangsar Village in Malaysia; and Trucco standalone stores are at The Pavilion and Bangsar Village in Malaysia, and at VivoCity in Singapore.

There are 6 John Little stores strategically located at , Northpoint, , , and .

Robinson Group holds the franchise for Marks & Spencer in Singapore and Malaysia. There are 7 Marks & Spencer outlets in Singapore – The Centrepoint, , , Raffles City, Paragon, Plaza Singapura and VivoCity. In Malaysia there are 4 Marks & Spencer outlets, with the flagship store at Suria KLCC and 3 other stores located at One Utama, The Gardens, Mid Valley City and Sunway Pyramid.

The 2 most recent additions to the Robinson Group portfolio of retail entities are River Island and Fat Face. There are two River Island stores in Singapore, located at VivoCity and Raffles City. There are three Fat Face stores, one in Singapore at Suntec City, and two in Malaysia at The Gardens, Mid Valley and Bangsar Village.

For more information, please visit www.robinsons.com.sg

Media Contact

Weber Shandwick Worldwide (Singapore) Pte Ltd

Ng Chip Keng DID: +65 6825 8084, Mobile: +65 9623 2166, Email: [email protected]

Gerry Wong DID: +65 6825 8069, Mobile: +65 9247 4963, Email: [email protected]

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