Trading Statement

The Vitec Group PLC
14 July 2004

14 July 2004


                              The Vitec Group plc

                           Post-close Trading Update

The Vitec Group plc, the international supplier of products, services and
solutions to the Broadcast, Entertainment and Media industries, today announces
a trading update ahead of its half year results announcement due for release on
6 September 2004.

Overall, first half trading was in line with expectations. Group turnover is
expected to be some 8% higher than the first 6 months of last year (H1 2003 was
£82.1m, excluding the Retail business divested in December 2003) due to volume
growth and the benefit of two small acquisitions.

•    In Photographic, sales grew strongly in the first half with double-digit 
     growth in tripod and lighting truss volumes. Turnover growth was
     particularly strong in the USA. Multiblitz, Manfrotto's German distributor,
     acquired in January and now integrated into Bogen Imaging, contributed 
     sales for the first time.

•    Broadcast Services saw a significant increase in demand for its rental
     services, enhanced by the acquisition of the business of Charter US, a 
     local competitor, which added two new cities to its network of eight US 
     facilities, and a small contribution from the Euro 2004 football 
     championships in Portugal.

•    In Broadcast Systems, turnover is expected to be slightly up on last year, 
     with higher sales in portable power and non-broadcast communication
     systems, principally air traffic control. In our camera support businesses,
     volumes of lightweight manual tripods grew, which increased activity 
     through our Costa Rica facility, resulting in higher-than-planned material 
     imports from Europe, but demand for studio-related products was weaker than 
     last year.

Over half  the Group's sales are derived from either the USA or US
Dollar-related economies. The adverse effects of translating overseas sales and
trading profits into Sterling are estimated to be some £6m and £0.5m
respectively. With Photographic production based in Italy, the Group also has
significant transaction exposure to the weaker US Dollar against the Euro.
Despite the benefits of the hedging actions taken and the partial offset of US
Dollar-based production in Costa Rica, the higher-than-planned US Dollar
revenues received in Italy, referred to above, contributed to an overall adverse
transaction effect which will be larger than anticipated at the beginning of the
year.

In line with the Group's 'Consolidate-Leverage-Grow' strategy, and with the
plant consolidation in the Broadcast Systems Division substantially complete,
the Group is moving to gain further leverage within that Division, including
streamlining its communications brands. Restructuring is expected to cost in the
order of £4-5m, the major part of which is anticipated to be charged in the
second half. Fuller details will be provided at the half year results
announcement.

We expect current trading conditions to continue for the full year, and we
expect the second half to see the normal favourable seasonal bias and a
contribution from the Athens Olympics.

                                    - Ends -


Contacts:

The Vitec Group plc
Gareth Rhys Williams                   Telephone:  [phone]

Financial Dynamics
Rob Gurner                             Telephone:  [phone]



Notes to Editors

The Vitec Group supplies a wide range of equipment and services to the
broadcasting, entertainment and photographic industries. Its products are
distributed in nearly 100 countries, either through dealerships or direct to the
end user or corporate sector, and it has manufacturing facilities in four
countries. The Vitec Group is a major force in its chosen specialised fields.
More information can be found at: www.vitecgroup.com.


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