Interim Results - 26 Weeks to 2 October 1999

600 Group PLC
22 November 1999
                                                                              
                               THE 600 GROUP PLC
              INTERIM RESULTS FOR THE 26 WEEKS TO 2 OCTOBER 1999
                                       
                                    SUMMARY
                                       
*    Markets at bottom of the downturn with some signs of recovery
*    Break-even before reorganisation costs
*    Net cash position improved by £5.2m to £12.5m
*    Dividend maintained at 1.5p per share

Michael Wright, Chairman, said:

'The Group's robust financial position will enable it to continue to pursue
its medium term growth strategy based on new product introductions, selective
acquisitions and increased market share'.
                                       


Enquiries:     Tony Sweeten, Group Chief Executive
               John Fussey, Group Finance Director
               Tel: [phone] on 22 November 1999,
                    thereafter on 0113 277 6100

CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT

Results

The Group has had to contend with very difficult conditions in all of its
major international markets, with the overall UK and USA machine tool markets
showing annual reductions in demand of over 40%.

Due to these adverse market conditions, turnover from continuing operations
reduced by some 18% from £55.8m to £46.0m, with increased sales coming from
our new acquisitions in France and Germany, the continued growth of our laser
businesses and the first shipment on a major contract for the Toshka pumping
station in Upper Egypt.

The Group has continued to adjust and realign its cost base accordingly and
£618,000 of reorganisation costs were incurred in the period.  Excluding these
reorganisation costs, the Group incurred a loss before interest of £57,000.
Reorganisation has resulted in a further 11% reduction in headcount since the
beginning of the year and a 20% reduction over the past 12  months.  Total
overheads have reduced by approximately 15% year on year.

Throughout the period, all businesses have concentrated on cash generation
while maintaining their extensive product and market development programmes.
As a result, the Group's net cash position improved by £5.2m to £12.5m.

Dividend

The Board has decided to maintain the interim dividend at 1.5p per share.

Outlook

The Group's major markets are now considered to be at the bottom of the
downturn and in some areas, notably continental Europe and Asia, recovery is
already visible.  The UK market is likely to remain subdued until the benefit
of the recent economic recovery  feeds  through into the capital equipment
sector during 2000.  Our North  American operations should start to recover
during the second half of the financial year, benefiting from increased market
share.

In this environment, the Group should perform better in the second half of the
year although, as anticipated at the AGM, profitability for the full year to
March 2000 is likely to be materially lower than that achieved in 1999.

The Group's robust financial position will enable it to continue to pursue its
medium term growth strategy based on new product introductions, selective
acquisitions and increased market share.


Michael Wright
Chairman
22 November 1999



Consolidated profit and loss account (unaudited)

                                         26 weeks to  Half year to  Period to
                                            02.10.99      30.09.98   03.04.99
                                                         restated*
                                                £000          £000       £000
Turnover
Continuing operations                         45,958        55,805    110,994
Discontinued operations                        1,276         3,192      5,854
                                              -------------------------------
                                              47,234        58,997    116,848
                                              -------------------------------
Operating (loss)/profit
Continuing operations                           (630)        3,717      6,052
Discontinued operations                          (45)          (97)      (642)
                                              -------------------------------
Total operating (loss)/profit                   (675)        3,620      5,410
Provision for loss on discontinued operations      -             -     (1,597)
                                              -------------------------------
(Loss)/profit on ordinary activities
 before interest                                (675)        3,620      3,813
Net interest (payable)/receivable                (69)          272        249
                                              -------------------------------
(Loss)/profit on ordinary activities
 before taxation                                (744)        3,892      4,062
Including ongoing pension credit of £367,000
 (30.9.98:£201,000; 03.04.99: £466,000)
Taxation                                        (203)         (700)      (715)
                                              -------------------------------
(Loss)/profit for the period                    (947)        3,192      3,347
Dividend     - Equity                           (841)         (843)    (3,084)
             - Non-equity                        (66)          (46)       (93)
                                              -------------------------------
Transferred to reserves                       (1,854)        2,303        170
                                              -------------------------------
Basic and diluted (loss)/earnings per share    (1.8p)         5.6p       5.8p
Adjusted (loss)/earnings per share from
 operations (see note 5)                       (2.3p)         5.3p       7.9p
                                              -------------------------------
Dividend per ordinary share                     1.5p          1.5p       5.5p
                                               ======        ======    ======
Notes

1.   The charge for corporation tax comprises UK taxation of £nil (1998:
     £406,000) and overseas taxation of £203,000 (1998: £294,000).
2.   The charge for dividends in the period represents preference dividends of
     £66,000 gross (1998: £46,000 net) and the interim dividend of 1.5p per   
     share amounting to £841,000 (1998: 1.5p per share amounting to £843,000).
3.   The basic (loss)/earnings per share are based on the loss of £1,013,000,
     being the loss for the period after deducting non-equity dividends (1998:
     profit £3,146,000) and the weighted average number of shares outstanding 
     of 56,043,550 (1998: 55,991,614).  For diluted (loss)/earnings per share,
     the weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue is adjusted to   
     56,043,550 (1998: 56,100,457) and assumes conversion of dilutive         
     potential ordinary shares of nil (1998: 108,843).
4.   The increase in the period from 4 April 1999 of 15,000 shares in issue at
     2 October 1999 has arisen from the exercise of share options by a former
     employee of the Company.
5.   The adjusted (loss)/earnings per share from operations excludes net
     pension and goodwill amortisation effects of £289,000 (1998: £201,000).

* Restatement of 1998 figures to reflect activities discontinued in the period
ended 3 April 1999.

Summarised consolidated balance sheet (unaudited)

                                        At 02.10.99  At 03.04.99  At 30.09.98
                                               £000         £000         £000

Fixed assets                                 26,185       28,475       25,476
Working capital
Stocks                                       28,931       31,564       34,368
Pension fund prepayment                      14,120       13,753       13,488
Debtors                                      20,257       27,552       26,732
Creditors and provisions                    (19,214)     (23,863)     (24,924)
                                            ---------------------------------
                                             44,094       49,006       49,664
                                            ---------------------------------
Net cash                                     12,486        7,313       10,708
                                            ---------------------------------
Capital employed                             82,765       84,794       85,848
                                            ---------------------------------
Capital and reserves
Called up share capital                      16,512       16,509       16,509
Reserves                                     66,253       68,285       69,339
                                            ---------------------------------
                                             82,765       84,794       85,848
                                             ======       ======       ======

Reconciliation of movements in shareholders' funds

                                         26 weeks to  Half year to  Period to
                                            02.10.99      30.09.98   03.04.99
                                                £000          £000       £000

(Loss)/profit for the period                    (947)        3,192      3,347
Dividends                                       (907)         (889)    (3,177)
                                              -------------------------------
                                              (1,854)        2,303        170
Currency translation differences                (184)       (1,203)      (123)
New share capital subscribed                       9            38         37
                                              -------------------------------
                                              (2,029)        1,138         84
Opening shareholders' funds                   84,794        84,710     84,710
                                              -------------------------------
Closing shareholders' funds                   82,765        85,848     84,794
                                              ======        ======     ======

Summarised consolidated cash flow statement (unaudited)

                                         26 weeks to  Half year to  Period to
                                            02.10.99      30.09.98   03.04.99
                                                £000          £000       £000

Operating (loss)/profit                         (675)        3,620      5,410
Depreciation and (profit)/loss on sale
 of fixed assets                               1,255         1,377      2,877
Amortisation of goodwill                          78             -         30
Increase in pension prepayment                  (367)         (201)      (466)
Decrease/(increase) in working capital         5,103        (1,169)     2,248
Exchange difference on transactions
 eliminated on consolidation                       6           278        198
                                              -------------------------------
                                               5,400         3,905     10,297
Net cash outflow in respect of
 reorganisation costs                              -          (282)      (285)
                                              -------------------------------
Net cash inflow from operating activities      5,400         3,623     10,012
Net interest (paid)/received                     (72)          175        246
Preference dividends paid                        (66)          (46)       (93)
Taxation paid                                   (754)         (699)    (2,480)
Net sale/(purchase) of tangible fixed assets     869        (1,574)    (2,608)
Acquisitions                                       -             -     (4,098)
Net overdraft acquired with businesses             -             -        (59)
Equity dividends paid                           (560)       (2,240)    (4,762)
                                              -------------------------------
Net cash inflow/(outflow) before use of liquid
 resources and financing                       4,817          (761)    (3,842)
                                              -------------------------------
Management of liquid resources
Purchase of term deposits                     (1,755)       (4,418)      (458)
Reduction of current asset investments           383         1,474        199
                                              -------------------------------
                                              (1,372)       (2,944)      (259)
Financing
Issue of ordinary share capital                    9            38         37
New bank loans                                     -         3,737      4,799
Repayment of bank loans                       (1,485)         (157)      (744)
Capital element of finance lease rental
 payments                                       (344)         (532)      (815)
                                              -------------------------------
Net cash (outflow)/inflow from financing      (1,820)        3,086      3,277
                                              -------------------------------
Increase/(decrease) in cash in the period      1,625          (619)      (824)
                                               ======        ======    ======

Reconciliation of movement in cash flow to movement in net funds/(debt)

                                         26 weeks to  Half year to  Period to
                                            02.10.99      30.09.98   03.04.99
                                                £000          £000       £000

Increase/(decrease) in cash in the period      1,625          (619)      (824)
Cash outflow/(inflow) from decrease/
(increase) in debt and lease financing         1,829        (3,048)    (3,240)
Cash outflow from increase in liquid
 reserves                                      1,372         2,944        259
                                              -------------------------------
Change in net funds resulting from cash
 flows                                         4,826          (723)    (3,805)
Loans and finance leases acquired with
 businesses                                        -             -        (62)
New finance leases entered into                    -           (54)       (52)
Exchange movement                                347           347         94
                                              -------------------------------
Movement in net funds in the period            5,173          (430)    (3,825)
Net funds at the beginning of the period       7,313        11,138     11,138
                                              -------------------------------
Net funds at the end of the period            12,486        10,708      7,313
                                              ======        ======     ======
Notes to the financial information

The financial information set out in this Interim Report does not constitute
statutory accounts.  Statutory accounts for the period ended 3 April 1999 have
been delivered to the Registrar of Companies.  KPMG Audit Plc, The 600 Group
PLC's auditors, reported on those accounts under section 235 of the Companies
Act 1985.  Their report was unqualified and did not contain a statement under
section 237(2) or (3) of that Act.

Copies of the Interim Report will be sent to all shareholders and will be
available to members of the public from the Company's Registered Office at 600
House, Landmark Court, Revie Road, Leeds LS11 8JT.

The 600 Group PLC is registered in England and Wales No. 196730.

Financial Calendar

Interim ordinary dividend payable 10 January 2000 to shareholders on the
register on 10 December 1999.
Preference shares dividend payable 31 March 2000.
Results for the year announced June 2000.

Share Price Information

Information concerning the day-to-day movement of The 600 Group share price
can be found on SEAQ page 52441, Topic 162 or by dialling 0336 434031 for the
Financial Times share price service.

The 600 Group PLC
600 House
Landmark Court
Revie Road
Leeds
LS11 8JT

Telephone:               0113 277 6100
Facsimile:               0113 276 5600
Web site:                http://www.the600group.com