Agreement in Principle with Bankers & Shareholders

Ross Group PLC 21 December 1999 ROSS GROUP PLC Earlier this year, the Board of Ross Group PLC ('the Company') entered into discussions with various parties with a view to implementing the last stage of the Company's medium term strategy. The medium term strategy had by that stage resulted in significant restructuring of the businesses within the Company, the disposal of non-core assets and substantial debt reduction. As a result, the Company believed it was better positioned to approach its shareholders to secure the long-term financial stability of the Company. These discussions resulted in the capital reorganisation and rights issue proposals that were presented to, and rejected by, shareholders at the Extraordinary General Meeting on 3 September 1999. Since these proposals were rejected, the Company has been carefully considering other available options. One of the options considered involved the Company working with a major shareholder, controlled by The Grande Holdings Limited ('Grande'), and the Company's bankers to try and conclude a proposal that would achieve the Company's objective of long- term stability and security. The Company has today reached agreement in principle with Grande, the Company's bankers and the Company's preference shareholders to a proposal ('the Proposal') which involves inter alia:- i) a heavily discounted rights issue, underwritten by Grande, to raise approximately £2.7 million; ii) a capital reorganisation; iii) significant changes to the banking and funding arrangements, that will see the Company further reduce its debt burden; and iv) a purchase of the preference shares by the Company. Certain shareholders, representing approximately 37 per cent of the issued ordinary share capital, have signed undertaking to vote in favour of resolutions to approve the Proposal. Details of the Proposal, which will require, inter alia, approval at an Extraordinary General Meeting, will be announced shortly and a document will be despatched to shareholders as soon as is practicable. Background on Grande Grande, which currently controls 13.5% of the Company's ordinary shares, is an international conglomerate listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange with a current market capitalisation of approximately HK$913 million. The principal activities of Grande consist of the design, development, manufacture and sale of computer peripherals, consumer electronic products and components, leisure and entertainment as well as the distribution of consumer products. Outlook In the Company's interim statement for the six months ended 30 June 1999 made on 2 September 1999 the Company stated that the outlook for the second half of the year was looking more promising. However, the general uncertainty resulting from the rejection of the capital reorganisation and rights issue at the Extraordinary General Meeting on 3 September 1999, left the Company unable to reassure external parties of its long term future. This has resulted in significant market and financial pressure on the normal business of the Group. As a result the Company is expecting a significant loss in the second half of 1999. The Company expects to see an improvement in trading performance in 2000 upon satisfactory completion of the Proposal but in the event that the Proposal is not successfully completed, it is extremely likely that the Company will be unable to continue to trade. 21 December 1999 Enquiries: Tim Redfern Beeson Gregory 0171 488 4040

Companies

Ross Group (RGP)
UK 100

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