Interim Results

600 Group PLC
20 November 2000


                                                              20 November 2000



                               THE 600 GROUP PLC

            INTERIM RESULTS FOR THE 26 WEEKS TO 30 SEPTEMBER 2000



CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT



Results



The Group has achieved an improved first half performance, despite the
uncertain trading conditions in the majority of its major international
markets.



Order intake improved by 10% over the first half of last year, with the UK
based businesses achieving a 27% increase as a result of strong export demand.



Turnover from continuing operations increased from £46.0m to £47.4m with both
the laser businesses and factoring operations in the UK and Germany benefiting
from their strong positions in the growth sectors of the manufacturing
industry.



Several major new products are due to enter volume production during the
second half of the year, following their successful international launches
during the latter months of the period.



Strategic initiatives have been taken to continue to increase market share of
higher-tech products in growing markets, including the establishment of new
sales offices in Cincinnati, USA (to concentrate on the sale of Colchester CNC
lathes) and in Lyon, France.



Profit before tax and goodwill adjustment increased to £3.1m from a loss of £
0.7m mainly as a result of a £1.2m improvement in operating profit and a £2.3m
increase in the pension credit.



Cash management continued to be a priority, resulting in the Group's net cash
balance improving by £1.2m to £16.7m.



Dividend



The interim dividend is maintained at 1.5p per share.



Outlook



The Group's major markets are now considered to have passed the bottom of the
downturn and are starting to show signs of recovery. However, the current
generally tight economic conditions are likely to result in only a gradual
rate of improvement in investment expenditure over the next few months.



These modest improvements, together with our extensive product and market
development initiatives, place the Group in a strong position to benefit from
any sustained upturn in demand.





Michael Wright

Chairman

20 November 2000



Enquiries:     Tony Sweeten, Group Chief Executive

               John Fussey, Group Finance Director


Telephone:     [phone]



Consolidated profit and loss account (unaudited)
                                       26 weeks to   26 weeks to   52 weeks to
                                          30.09.00      02.10.99      01.04.00

                                              £000          £000          £000
Turnover
Continuing operations                       47,430        45,958        97,176
Discontinued operations                          -         1,276         1,507

                                            47,430        47,234        98,683

Operating profit/(loss)
Continuing operations                        2,833          (630)        6,039
Discontinued operations                          -           (45)          165
Total operating profit/(loss)                2,833          (675)        6,204


Transfer of goodwill previously               (208)            -             -
written off to reserves
Profit/(loss) on ordinary activities         2,625          (675)        6,204
before interest

Net interest receivable/(payable)              266           (69)           21
Profit/(loss) on ordinary activities         2,891          (744)        6,225
before taxation*

Taxation                                      (542)         (203)         (674)
Profit/(loss) for the period                 2,349          (947)        5,551

Dividend

 - Equity                                     (841)         (841)       (3,083)

 - Non-equity                                  (66)          (66)         (132)
Transferred to/(from) reserves               1,442        (1,854)        2,336


Goodwill reinstated previously                 208             -             -
written off
Net effect on reserves                       1,650        (1,854)        2,336

Basic and diluted earnings/(loss) per         4.1p         (1.8p)         9.7p
share
Dividend per ordinary share                   1.5p          1.5p          5.5p



Notes

1    The charge for corporation tax comprises UK taxation of £444,000 (1999: £
nil) and overseas taxation of £98,000 (1999: £203,000).

2    The charge for dividends in the period represents preference dividends of
£66,000 (1999: £66,000) and the interim dividend of 1.5p per share amounting
to £841,000 (1999: 1.5p per share amounting to £841,000).

3    The basic earnings/(loss) per share are based on the profit of £
2,283,000, being the profit for the period after deducting non-equity
dividends (1999: loss £1,013,000) and the weighted average number of shares
outstanding of 56,049,237 (1999: 56,043,550).  For diluted earnings/(loss) per
share, the weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue is adjusted to
56,050,570 (1999: 56,043,550) and assumes conversion of dilutive potential
ordinary shares of 1,333 (1999: nil).

4    The goodwill adjustments relate to the closure of United Machine Tools
Inc.



* Including pension credit of £2,685,000 (1999: 26 weeks £367,000, 52 weeks £
5,097,000).



Summarised consolidated balance sheet (unaudited)


                                At 30.09.00      At 01.04.00      At 02.10.99

                                       £000             £000             £000
Fixed assets                         22,522           23,730           26,185
Working capital
Stocks                               26,393           27,154           28,931
Pension fund prepayment              21,535           18,850           14,120
Debtors                              21,653           24,069           20,257
Creditors and provisions            (19,720)         (22,207)         (19,214)
                                     49,861           47,866           44,094

Net cash                             16,674           15,456           12,486

Capital employed                     89,057           87,052           82,765
Capital and reserves
Called up share capital              16,512           16,512           16,512
Reserves                             72,545           70,540           66,253
                                     89,057           87,052           82,765





Reconciliation of movements in shareholders' funds


                                   26 weeks to     26 weeks to     52 weeks to
                                      30.09.00        02.10.99        01.04.00

                                          £000            £000            £000
Profit/(loss) for the period             2,349            (947)          5,551
Dividends                                 (907)           (907)         (3,215)
                                         1,442          (1,854)          2,336
Currency translation                       355            (183)            (86)
differences
Goodwill reinstated previously             208               -               -
written off
New share capital subscribed                 -               8               8
                                         2,005          (2,029)          2,258
Opening shareholders' funds             87,052          84,794          84,794
Closing shareholders' funds             89,057          82,765          87,052







Summarised consolidated cash flow statement (unaudited)


                                        26 weeks to  26 weeks to  52 weeks to
                                           30.09.00     02.10.99     01.04.00

                                               £000         £000         £000
Operating profit/(loss)                       2,833         (675)       6,204
Depreciation and (profit) on sale of            944        1,255        2,333
fixed assets
Amortisation of goodwill                         91           78          160
Increase in pension prepayment               (2,685)        (367)      (5,097)
Decrease in working capital                   3,293        5,103        4,761
Exchange difference on transactions
eliminated on consolidation                     159            6          171
                                              4,635        5,400        8,532  
                                              
Net cash inflow in respect of closures
and reorganisation costs                         65            -          379
                                                 
Net cash inflow from operating                4,700        5,400        8,911
activities
Net interest received/(paid)                    174          (72)          11
Preference dividends paid                       (66)         (66)        (132)
Taxation paid                                  (177)        (754)      (1,439)
Net (purchase)/sale of tangible fixed          (524)         869        2,707
assets
Acquisitions                                      -            -         (570)
Equity dividends paid                        (2,242)        (560)      (1,401)
Net cash inflow before use of liquid
resources and financing                       1,865        4,817        8,087
                                              

Management of liquid resources
Purchase of term deposits                    (1,737)      (1,755)      (6,640)
Reduction of current asset investments          347          383          389
                                             (1,390)      (1,372)      (6,251)
Financing
Issue of ordinary share capital                   -            8            8
Repayment of bank loans                        (271)      (1,484)      (1,345)
Capital element of finance lease rental        (321)        (344)        (813)
payments
Net cash outflow from financing                (592)      (1,820)      (2,150)
(Decrease)/increase in cash in the             
period                                         (117)       1,625         (314)







Reconciliation of movement in cash flow to movement in net funds


                                       26 weeks to    26 weeks to  52 weeks to
                                          30.09.00       02.10.99     01.04.00

                                              £000           £000         £000
(Decrease)/increase in cash in the            (117)         1,625         (314)
period
Cash outflow from decrease in debt             592          1,829        2,158
and lease financing
Cash outflow from increase in liquid         1,390          1,372        6,251
reserves
Change in net funds resulting from           1,865          4,826        8,095
cash flows
New finance leases entered into                  -              -          (63)
Exchange movement                             (647)           347          111
Movement in net funds in the period          1,218          5,173        8,143
Net funds at the beginning of the           15,456          7,313        7,313
period
Net funds at the end of the period          16,674         12,486       15,456



Notes to the financial information



The financial information set out in this interim report does not constitute
statutory accounts.  Statutory accounts for the period ended 1 April 2000 have
been delivered to the Registrar of Companies.  KPMG Audit Plc, The 600 Group
PLC's auditor, reported on those accounts under section 235 of the Companies
Act 1985.  Its report was unqualified and did not contain a statement under
section 237(2) or (3) of that Act.



Copies of the interim report will be sent to all shareholders and will be
available to members of the public from the Company's registered office at 600
House, Landmark Court, Revie Road, Leeds, LS11 8JT.



The 600 Group PLC is registered in England and Wales No. 196730.



Financial Calendar



Interim ordinary dividend payable on 10 January 2001 to shareholders on the
register at 15 December 2000.

Preference shares dividend payable 31 March 2001.

Results for the year announced June 2001.



Share Price Information



Information concerning the day-to-day movement of The 600 Group share price
can be found on SEAQ page 52441, Topic 162 or by dialling 0336 434031 for the
Financial Times share price service.



The 600 Group PLC

600 House

Landmark Court

Revie Road

Leeds

LS11 8JT



Telephone: [phone]

Facsimile: 0113 2765600

www.600group.com