Kingfisher is planning massive investment in South Korea, where 30 B&Q stores are envisaged by 2010.
The first shop will open in Seoul next year and the expansion will be supported by a Won1 trillion to Won1.5 trillion (£530 million to£800 million) investment.
B&Q Korea, the local arm of B&Q International, made a presentation on Wednesday to local suppliers to outline the expansion strategy.
On Tuesday, B&Q Korea chief executive Lee Han-Gu was quoted in local press reports as saying that the move into Korea could also provide a stepping stone into Japan.
B&Q's Korean headquarters played down the target, saying: 'We haven't any firm comitments until we see how the first four stores have performed.'
Separately, a source at Kingfisher said staff in the London HQ had received an internal memo warning of a 'shakedown' following the demerger. A review will take place and some roles - 'tens rather than hundreds' of staff at the 150-strong head office - will be made redundant or relocated to B&Q.
- According to Deutsche Bank analysts in the US, Home Depot chief executive Bob Nardelli is planning an informal meeting with Kingfisher boss Gerry Murphy.
Nardelli told US journalists on Tuesday that he was eyeing opportunities for global growth. A Kingfisher spokesman said meetings between the two businesses historically take place more than once a year.
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