Trading Statement

COUNTYWeb.com PLC
11 June 2001

                              COUNTYWeb.COM PLC

                                Trading update



Key points


  * Directory continues to grow with number of enhanced entries rising.


  * Database now contains over 180,000 e:mail entries.


  * New sites launched including www.gwesircymru.com, www.runner.co.uk,
    www.wokpots.co.uk and www.listlocator.co.uk.


  * Page impressions in March, at 2.3 million, represented a 280% increase
    on last year and page impressions have remained over 2 million per month
    since then.


  * Continued sales of Dun and Bradstreet marketing data.


  * Online credit reports from Equifax online from 1 June 2001.


  * The integration of recently acquired ANSABACK is substantially complete
    with new business being gained as a result.


  * A highly competitive market place for services such as web hosting and
    site design together with a slow down in the rate of growth has lead to a
    cost-cutting programme being initiated.


  * The Board is conducting a complete strategic review to explore all
    possible means of enhancing shareholder value.

William Catchpole, Managing Director, states,

'COUNTYWeb has faced an increasingly competitive marketplace for the provision
of internet services in recent months, and it is clear that the rate of growth
is unlikely to be as rapid as originally anticipated. The board has initiated
a review of all areas of the business to maximise the value of COUNTYWeb's
intellectual property, assets and skill sets for the benefit of shareholders.'


Further enquiries:


William Catchpole (COUNTYWeb.COM PLC)     -     01473 321 813


Richard Evans (Brewin Dolphin Securities Ltd)     -     0161 214 5553



Trading update

COUNTYWeb has faced an increasingly competitive marketplace in the provision
of internet services in recent months and whilst sales of enhanced entries
within the directory have continued to rise, and now number over 4,500
interactive entries, it is clear that the rate of growth is unlikely to be as
rapid as originally anticipated.


The business database, now one of the largest for a UK directory, contains in
excess of 2.45 million business addresses and 180,000 e:mail contacts. These
add proven connectivity between the directory and the recipient, while the
launch of new sites for the Welsh language at www.gwesircymru.com, for sports
goods at www.runner.co.uk and for Asian restaurants at www.wokpots.co.uk have
provided increased functionality in XML format, spreading the presence of our
directory and maximising the use of its core database.


The page impressions, for the COUNTYWeb directory and its regional/county
sites, reached a record 2.3 million page impressions for March, representing a
280% rise on the traffic for the corresponding period a year ago. In April and
May the page impressions have remained over 2 million indicating consistant
regular traffic using the directory.


The marketing arrangements for online Equifax credit data are now complete and
the service has been available from 1 June 2001.


The market for WAP offerings, developed under the uk927.co.uk brand, has been
taken up slowly, and do not yet provide an income stream. They do however add
increased visibility for the directory.


Recently the company purchased the 24/7 ANSABACK message service. It has
substantially migrated this business to COUNTYWeb's offices with all personnel
now located in one site. Once the final infrastructure transfers are complete
operating efficiency will be increased by the consolidation of all
infrastructure and management costs on one site, which will be in use 24 hours
a day 7 days a week. New accounts have already been gained since the
acquisition of ANSABACK and the prospects look encouraging as more businesses
outsource their overflow and out of hours telephony needs. The use of the
existing outbound/inbound telephony equipment will now also be extended to 24/
7, providing a platform to allow the Ansaback's business to further develop. A
new website at www.ansaback.com promoting Ansaback's service, in conjunction
with our existing extensive e:mail database, will also provide an additional
channel to market.


However, other areas of business, such as domain name registrations, have come
under severe pricing pressure, which along with the dramatic arrival of DIY
websites from templates with free hosting, could not have been forecast a year
ago. For these reasons the board has decided to review the current strategy
and seek partnerships for these services in this new competitive environment.


COUNTYWeb has cash at the bank of £1.68 million but the Board has decided to
take action now to reduce its running costs, which will result in some staff
redundancies.


In the light of all these factors the board and its advisers, in common with
other companies with a substantially internet-oriented business, have
initiated a wide-ranging review of COUNTYWeb's current business strategy with
the objective of enhancing shareholder value. During this review all areas of
the business are being evaluated and all potential opportunities to maximise
COUNTYWeb's intellectual property, assets and skill sets are being assessed.
This may include seeking substantial partners or outright sale of the
directory business.




ENDS