Acquisition

Acal PLC
14 August 2002


FOR RELEASE                         7:00 AM                   14 AUGUST 2002


                                   ACAL plc


 (Leading pan-European, value added distributor providing specialist design-in,
            sales and marketing services for international suppliers)


                         ACQUISITION OF SCANOPTIC GmbH

Acal plc announces that it has acquired ScanOptic GmbH ('ScanOptic') for a cash
consideration of €2.4m (£1.5m) plus a further consideration of up to €1m
(£0.64m) based on the results for the year ended 31st December 2002 and certain
ongoing commitments.  It is anticipated that the acquisition, which is subject
to approvals including shareholder approval from ScanOptic's parent, Easy
Software AG, will be completed by the end of October.

ScanOptic's business is the distribution and service of document imaging and
management products.  It had sales of €11.2m (£7.1m) in the financial year to
31st December 2001 and profit before tax of €562,000 (£359,000).

Tony Laughton, the Chief Executive of Acal plc said:-

"ScanOptic has an enviable reputation in the German speaking countries.  By
combining its activities with Acal's pan-European Headway business, we believe
that this acquisition will make us the pre-eminent distributor of document
management technologies in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.



For further information:-

John Curry           -        Chairman                      Tel: [phone]
Tony Laughton        -        Chief Executive               Tel: [phone]


Brian Coleman-Smith / Amanda Sheehy
Binns & Co. Public Relations Ltd                            Tel: [phone]


Notes to Editors:

1                    The Acal Group is a leading European, value-added
distributor providing specialist design-in, sales and marketing services for
international suppliers in the fields of Electronic Components, Information
Technology Products, IT Parts Services and Industrial Controls.  Its value-added
philosophy and geographic coverage enables Acal to provide specialist knowledge
and support to customers on a pan-European basis.



2                    Headway Technology is focused as a specialist distributor
in the document management and imaging market.  Established in 1986, Headway has
become a leading supplier of document management technologies being the first
European distributor to enter this market.  By entering the market at the time
when document technologies on a PC platform were conceived, Headway has
accumulated a wealth of knowledge and experience and is acknowledged by the
industry's major suppliers as a leader in its field.



Sourcing only the 'Best of Breed' products that meet the demanding requirements
of mission critical applications, Headway provides a single source for all
specialist requirements at competitive prices.  All products are supplied with
extensive pre and post sales support.



As part of the Acal Group, Headway provides wide coverage throughout Europe and
sustains competitive advantage by being at the forefront of technologies.



3                    Acal has operating companies in the UK, Netherlands,
Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, Scandinavia and the USA.



                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange