Trading Statement

Acal PLC
29 March 2004


FOR RELEASE                        07:00 hrs                  29 MARCH 2004


                                   ACAL plc

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


                    Pre-Close Period Trading Update


Ahead of forthcoming discussions with investors and analysts, we are updating
the stock market on recent trading and developments.

As indicated at the time of the publication of our interim results in December
2003, distribution companies in our sectors with a presence in the USA and the
Far East were reporting growth in sales.  This trend seems to be continuing,
although it is not yet the case in Europe.

Over recent months, our quarterly group order rates have shown growth over the
corresponding quarters in the prior year.  This is true for all divisions except
the IT Parts Services division.  Sales growth is beginning to follow the order
pattern, although shipments are being affected in some cases by suppliers'
inability to deliver products and by delays in US export clearance of sensitive
products.  However, it seems too early to say whether there is a sustainable
positive trend in the UK and Continental Europe.

Trading has been more difficult than expected in the IT Parts Services
businesses particularly in the Netherlands and France.  With a reduced potential
in the Netherlands we have decided to close our IT Parts operation there.  This
decision will result in exceptional closure costs of between £0.5m to £1.0m.

The preliminary results for the year ending 31 March 2004 will be announced on 7
 June 2004.
          

For further information:-

Jim Virdee  Finance Director             01483 544500
Tony Laughton  Chief Executive           01483 544500
Grace Marriner  Beattie Financial        020 7398 3300


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    Design-in is the process by which Acal's sales engineers work with 
     customers and suppliers to procure components which meet the specific
     technical and performance needs of the customers.

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


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