RNS Number:5810M
Majestic Wine PLC
20 June 2003


NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION IN WHOLE OR IN PART IN OR INTO THE
UNITED STATES, AUSTRALIA, CANADA OR JAPAN


                                                                    20 June 2003


                                MAJESTIC WINE PLC


Placing of 2.5 million existing Ordinary Shares in Majestic Wine PLC ("Majestic"
       or the "Company") at 570p by Teather & Greenwood on behalf of the
                   Apthorp family interests (the "Placing").


The Company today announces that Teather & Greenwood has placed 2.5 million
existing Ordinary Shares of 30p each (the "Shares") in Majestic representing
16.3% of Majestic's issued share capital with institutional investors. The
Shares have been placed on behalf of the trustees of certain family trusts
associated with John Apthorp and by other members of the Apthorp family (the
"Selling Shareholders") who following the Placing have an interest in 41.1% of
the issued ordinary share capital. The highlights of the Placing are:


-    2.5 million Ordinary Shares of 30p each in Majestic, representing
16.3% of the issued share capital, have been placed by Teather & Greenwood with
institutional investors


-    The Placing comprises 2,300,000 (15.1%) existing Ordinary Shares
held by a trust in which John Apthorp has an interest and 200,000 existing
Ordinary Shares held by other trusts and members of the Apthorp family


-    John Apthorp's interest in Ordinary Shares has been reduced from
7,078,244 Ordinary Shares to 4,778,244 Ordinary Shares, a reduction from 46.3%
to 31.2% of the issued ordinary share capital


-    The Trustees of the trust in which John Apthorp has an interest have
agreed not to sell any further Ordinary Shares in Majestic, subject to Teather &
Greenwood's consent in certain limited circumstances, until the publication of
the results for the year ending 29 March 2004


-    As a result of the Placing, the free float (i.e. excluding the
Apthorp family interests) of the Company will increase to approximately 60%,
thereby increasing liquidity in Majestic Ordinary Shares

Commenting on the sale, John Apthorp, Chairman said:

"This is the first time I have sold any of my shareholding in Majestic. I think
this is a positive development for Majestic, as the Company will benefit from
the resulting increase in the liquidity of its shares.

I will continue to hold 31.2% of Majestic and I remain fully committed to its
further development. I am delighted with the performance of the business, as
demonstrated by Preliminary Results for the year ended 31 March 2003, the tenth
consecutive year of record profits. I believe that Majestic has an exciting
future and will continue to deliver shareholder growth."

Commenting on the share sale Tim How, Chief Executive, said:

"From the Company's perspective this is a significant event as the liquidity of
the shares has increased substantially and the shareholder base has been
expanded with the addition of a number of new institutional holders".


Enquiries to:

Majestic Wine                                Tel: 01923 298200
Tim How

Teather & Greenwood                          Tel: 020 7426 9000
Christopher Hardie

Buchanan Communications                      Tel: 020 7466 5000
Tim Thompson



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

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