Disposal

Acal PLC
14 October 2002



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                        14 October 2002


                                   ACAL plc


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


                    SALE OF ACAL'S CISCO DISTRIBUTION BUSINESS


Acal plc announces the sale of its Cisco Distribution Business ("CDB") based in
the Netherlands, to Ingram Micro BV.  CDB, which was engaged in the distribution
of Cisco networking products and the provision of certain related services,
operated as a division of Acal Nederland BV and shared the administration and
support facilities of that company with its other activities, all of which will
continue.  In the year ended 31st March 2002 CDB had sales of €37.4 million (£23
million) and earnings before interest, taxation and amortisation of goodwill
(EBITA) of approximately €0.95 million (£0.58 million).  Ingram has paid €1.74
million (£1.1 million) for the business and a further €3.14 million (£2.0
million) in respect of its inventory and certain other assets, both amounts
being settled in cash to the aggregate extent of €3.73 million (£2.4 million)
now and the balance of €1.15 million (£0.7 million) in two instalments over the
next few months.  The remaining assets and liabilities of CDB will be realised
in the ordinary course.  The proceeds of the sale will be applied, in the first
instance, in reducing the net borrowings of the Acal Group.

Acal's "centre of excellence" for Cisco has been in the Netherlands where it has
been a Cisco distributor for eight years and was awarded "Cisco Distribution
Partner" status last year.

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

"Our Cisco distribution business has grown significantly in recent years,
culminating in our appointment as a Cisco Distribution Partner last year.
Strategically, for its further development it fits better with Ingram's
pan-European activities in this area, and we are pleased that they are buying
it.  I would like to thank the team which helped us build this business over the
years, and wish them every success in the future.

Our IT activities in the Netherlands and elsewhere will now concentrate on the
development and growth of niche higher margin high-end networking and security
products as well as Headway document management and storage, fibre channel
connectivity and the EAF IT parts services businesses."


For further information:-

Tony Laughton                Chief Executive                       01483 544500
Jim Virdee                   Finance Director                      01483 544500
Brian Coleman-Smith / Amanda Sheehy            Beattie Financial   020 7398 3300


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


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