Acquisition

Acal PLC
16 July 2004




FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                            16 JULY 2004

                                       ACAL plc


(A leading pan-European, value added distributor providing specialist design-in,
sales and marketing services for international suppliers)

                             Acquisition of Mecodis SA

Acal plc announces the acquisition of the whole of the issued share capital of
Mecodis SA.

Mecodis SA is a value-added distributor of electronic components based in Paris.
Its turnover for the year ended 31 December 2003 was €6.8million and its net
assets at that date were approximately €3.0million including €1.7million of
cash.

Commenting on the acquisition, Tony Laughton, Acal's Chief Executive said:-

"Mecodis has an established reputation and a demand-creation approach which fits
well with Acal's own distribution model. We look forward to working with the
management of Mecodis to promote the combined success of Acal and Mecodis in
France."




For further information:-

Tony Laughton - Chief Executive     01483 544500

Jim Virdee - Finance Director       01483 544500

Brian Coleman-Smith                 020 7398 3300
Beattie Financial







Notes to Editors:-

1                     The Acal Group is a leading European, value-added
distributor providing specialist design-in, sales and marketing services for
international suppliers in the fields of Electronic Components, Information
Technology Products, IT Parts Services and Industrial Controls. Its value-added
philosophy and geographic coverage enables Acal to provide specialist knowledge
and support to customers on a pan-European basis.

2                     Design-in is the process by which Acal's sales engineers
work with customers and suppliers to procure components which meet the specific
technical and performance needs of the customers.

3                     Acal has operating companies in the UK, Netherlands,
Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Scandinavia and the USA.



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