Acquisition

RM PLC
22 October 2001

22 October 2001

RM ANNOUNCES ACQUISITION OF SOFTEASE

RM plc, the leading supplier of software, services and computer systems to UK
educational establishments, announces the acquisition of Softease Ltd, an
educational software developer, for a consideration of up to £4.9 million to be
satisfied by the issue of loan notes.   The acquisition of Softease is a
further development in RM's strategy of expanding its intellectual property
ownership.  It also gives RM access to a valuable education brand and a
developing portfolio of software products widely used in schools that are not
currently RM customers.

Softease develops and markets the award winning Textease range of products.
The Textease range is widely used by UK schools and comprises word processing
(with multimedia and DTP functionality), spreadsheet and data handling
packages.  Under the terms of the agreement Softease has committed to a
significant future product development programme and senior management have
agreed to remain with the business for at least 18 months to deliver these
plans.  Softease will be managed as a separate entity within RM following the
acquisition.

In the year to 30 November 2000, Softease had turnover of £0.9 million and
profit before tax (adjusted to include market rate salaries for the Directors)
of £0.4 million.  The net assets of the company at 30 November 2000 were £0.3
million.  The consideration of up to £4.9 million is being funded through the
issue of loan notes and is made up as follows:

* £3 million on completion;
* Up to £1.9 million payable over the next 18 months subject to criteria related
  to business performance and product development.

RM has had a growing relationship with Softease over the last four years,
focused on the inclusion of Textease software in the RM Window Box.  The
acquisition will allow RM to further enhance the range of integrated solutions
and boxed software products it offers to the primary school market.  It will
also provide RM with the ability to develop a broader range of innovative new
products and services that help schools deliver the ICT national curriculum.

Commenting on the acquisition, Richard Girling, Chief Executive of RM, said:

'Softease is highly regarded in RM's core schools market, and this development
takes further the strong relationship we already have with them.  RM is gaining
ownership of extremely high quality intellectual property, with a development
path that will add significant value to our product range.  We're also getting
a strong brand and a channel to new customers in the education market place.'


- Ends -


For further information, please contact:

Mike Greig/Phil Hemmings, RM plc,                            01235 826000

Andrew Fenwick/Fiona Fong, Brunswick                         020 7404 5959




Notes to editors:

Softease is based in Derbyshire and employs 12 people.  It was founded in 1994
by Geoff Titmuss and Danny Young, who remain in day-to-day control of the
business.  The company specialises in providing innovative, easy-to-use
software products for the UK education market and has experienced unbroken
year-on-year sales growth since its formation.

Softease's flagship product is Textease Studio, which combines word processing,
desktop publishing, multimedia authoring and data handling into a
single 'electronic sheet of paper.'  Products from the Textease range have
twice been recognised in the Best Primary Software category of the BETT awards
(the UK's major educational ICT product awards scheme), receiving a BETT award
in 1999 and a BETT gold award in 1997.