Acquisition

Screen PLC
24 December 2001


24 December 2001


SCREEN PLC:  £3.325m UK ACQUISITION

Entry into Transport and Defence industries


Screen Plc ('Screen' or the 'Group'), a leading provider of advanced security
and communication systems, announces the acquisition of the entire share
capital of Joyce-Loebl Group Ltd, a supplier of technology solutions to the
Transport and Defence industries for a total consideration of £3.325m
including the repayment of existing bank and other debt.  The total
consideration consists of  £2.575m paid on completion and £750k deferred until
21st January 2003.


Acquisition Highlights

*         Purchase of an established business with strong market presence

*         Supplier of  'in carriage' CCTV and electronic information display
          systems to Rail Transport market

*         Supplier of encryption and communication systems and other
          technologies to Defence market

*         Provides an established channel in two adjacent high growth markets
          for Screen's existing products



Financial Highlights

*         Acquisition funded by placing and bank facilities

*         Placing to raise approx. £2.5m (before expenses) of newly issued 1p
          Ordinary Shares at 55p per share

*         Joyce-Loebl had revenues of £8.2m, EBITDA of £1.1m and pre-tax
          profit of £0.4m as per the audited accounts for the year ended 28 July
          2001

*         Value of net assets taken on approximately £3.9m



Operational Highlights

*         Founded in 1952, Joyce-Loebl is based in Gateshead, Tyne & Wear, NE
          England

*         To the Transport industry the company is focused on rail
          infrastructure and 'in-carriage' signage, surveillance and displays, 
          providing electronic information systems, on-board CCTV security 
          systems, seat back video systems and related technology

*         An approved supplier to the UK Defence industry of ruggedised
          systems and other technology based products focused on encryption,
          communication and electronic warfare

*         UK award from a leading UK bank for product innovation

*         Significant presence in European rail market

*         Forecast revenues 50:50 between Transport and Defence



Commenting, Owen Williams, Chairman of Screen plc, said:

'This acquisition greatly increases our reach into the Transport sector and
provides an entry into the Defence market.

'In Transport, Joyce-Loebl has made substantial progress in developing and
supplying CCTV surveillance and electronic information display systems to rail
operators, an area where Screen's technologies and skills can help accelerate
this service.

'Screen's existing products and services are also highly relevant to the MOD
and other defence authorities where Joyce-Loebl brings over 40 years
experience in servicing the military sector.

He added: 'The range of products Screen have built up internally and those
added from previous acquisitions have significant potential to be applied to
the defence and transport industries.'

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Contacts:

Screen Plc                                   Binns & Co PR Ltd
Claes Bergstedt, Chief Executive             Paul McManus Tel: [phone]
(via Binns & Co PR)
Email:  [e-mail]                   Email: [e-mail]
www.screenplc.com                            www.binnspr.com



Additional note to Screen Plc press announcement


Background to the Joyce-Loebl acquisition

The range of products Screen has assembled through internal development
together with those acquired over the last two years has significant potential
to be applied to adjacent industries, which the Company has yet to address.
Screen has formed the view that the optimum way to do so will be to acquire a
business or businesses having strong market presence and channel capability.
Through this analysis and subsequent research it identified Joyce-Loebl as
being unique in its focus on Transport and Defence, two industry sectors of
keen interest to Screen Plc.



Transport

Joyce-Loebl have been active in providing CCTV, electronic information systems
and related technology to the transport industry with particular focus on the
rail infrastructure and 'in carriage' signage, surveillance and information
displays.  The Company has made substantial progress in developing and
supplying smart seat products and services to rail operators, an area where
Screen's technologies and skills can help accelerate this success.



Defence

Joyce-Loebl is a supplier of ruggedised systems and other technology based
products focused on encryption, communication technologies and electronic
warfare.  Screen regards this acquisition as one that will greatly increase
the groups reach into this important market utilising a well-established
channel.


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For more information on:

-    Joyce-Loebl Ltd, visit:            www.joyce-loebl.co.uk

-    Screen Plc, visit:                 www.screenplc.com