AGM Trading Update

Acal PLC
23 July 2004



FOR RELEASE:                       11.00 am                         23 JULY 2004

                                    ACAL plc

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

                             Annual General Meeting
                                 Trading Update


At the Annual General Meeting held today, John Curry, Chairman of Acal plc,
issued the following trading update:-


We announced the results for the year ended 31st March 2004 on 7th June 2004 and
provided a review of current trading as part of that announcement.  In the first
quarter of this year total orders have been flat year-on-year whereas the 
previous two quarters had shown growth of 5% over the corresponding quarters a
year earlier.


We are trading in line with our expectations in our electronic components and
industrial controls divisions.  These divisions have continued to show order
growth, unlike the IT divisions which have seen weak demand in networking
products and IT parts in continental Europe.


This does not change our view of seeing some year-on-year sales growth in the
second half, since economic indicators remain positive and supplier wins
continue to help.  Nevertheless, current trading conditions in the IT divisions
mean a cautious view continues to be appropriate, particularly in the first
half.


For further information:-


John Curry         - Chairman                            01483 544500


Jim Virdee         - Finance Director                    01483 544500


Brian Coleman-Smith/James Chandler/Grace Marriner        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