Trading Statement

GRESHAM COMPUTING PLC 5 August 1999 GRESHAM COMPUTING PLC ('GRESHAM') TRADING STATEMENT Gresham announced on 10 June 1999 that 'growth in certain sectors will inevitably be impacted by short term year 2000 freezes in new project starts in the second half of this year. We anticipate that this may result in our UK Financial Services and Specialist Contact Staff and Placement businesses being less buoyant in the second half'. During the third quarter Gresham's outlook for the second half of the financial year to 31 October 1999 has been severely affected, in particular, by: - Extreme pricing pressure in the major market sectors of our UK Financial Services division. This has led to reduced contract rates, fewer than expected contract wins and the terminations of one major ongoing contract and also a new contract in respect of which signed letters of intent had been exchanged. - The sale of certain material licences in the Financial Services division being delayed until after the start of the year 2000. - Slower than expected sales of our new Storage Management business in the US. - Whilst Gresham's e-business solutions and testing businesses are performing satisfactorily, progress made has not mitigated shortfalls elsewhere in the Group. As a result of these factors, Gresham will incur a significant loss in the third quarter. Over the last few months the Group's senior management has been strengthened and immediate action has been taken to improve the performance of the Group's businesses,including a reduction in the cost base, which will take effect through the fourth quarter. Whilest it is still too early to determine the outcome of the second half, the Directors consider that the overall result for the current financial year will be significantly short of current market expectations. Gresham's markets are likely to remain highly uncertain for the near future and adverse conditions are likely to continue into the first quarter of 2000. However,the Board believes that progress will continue in the e- business and testing areas and that the Group's Financial Services business remains well placed to take advantage of the widely predicted upturn in 2000. ENQUIRIES: Gresham Computing plc 01489 555 500 Trevor Read, Chief Executive Dean Osman, Finance Director Square Mile Communications Limited 0171 601 1000 Tim Jackaman/James Melville-Ross
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