Somerfield makes debut

SOMERFIELD, Britain's fifth largest supermarket chain, makes its stock market debut today.

SOMERFIELD, Britain's fifth largest supermarket chain, makes its stock market debut today.

The company had to cut its target share price twice in order to achieve a successful flotation - first from a an initial range of between 180p and 190p to 160p and than, a fortnight ago, to 145p.

The price values the company at £435 million sterling compared with the initial maximum target value of £570 million and analysts are now predicting the shares will make a healthy premium when trading begins.