Disposal of Subsidiary and Board Changes

Ross Group PLC 29 March 2000 ROSS GROUP PLC DISPOSAL OF SUBSIDIARY AND BOARD CHANGES As indicated in the circular to shareholders dated 2 March 2000 ('the Circular'), Ross Group PLC ('the Company') has been reviewing its non-core activities and in particular has been looking to divest its interest in one of the subsidiaries of the Technical Services Division. The subsidiary, GEL (Rhayader) Limited ('GRL') is in the business of designing and manufacturing gears, gear trains and gear transmissions ('the Business'). On 28 March 2000, GRL exchanged and completed contracts with Rutland Engineers Limited under which it agreed to sell the Business for a total consideration of £70,000, payable in instalments from June 2000. In addition, GRL granted an option to Rutland Engineers Limited for the purchase of the plant and machinery of the Business for the sum of £200,000 to be exercised before the end of October 2000. During 1998, the last year for which Audited accounts are available, GRL made a pre-tax profit of approximately £54,000 and ended the year with a net asset value of approximately £97,000. In 1999, GRL suffered a severe downturn in business and despite extensive restructuring is expecting to show a significant loss in the year. As part of the preparation of the loss estimate for the Company, included within the Circular, GRL has provided £340,000 for diminution of value associated with the sale. The net proceeds from the sale will be used to reduce the bank debt of the Company and the Directors believe that the sale is in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders. As described in the Circular, following approval of, inter alia, the Rights Issue at the Company's Extraordinary General Meeting held yesterday and admission of the new ordinary shares following the capital reorganisation today (also described in the Circular) Marcus P B Evans, David B Powell and Michael H V Jeans, directors of the Company, yesterday resigned from the Board of the Company. In addition, and as stated in the Circular, Michael Simon was yesterday appointed to the Board of the Company as a non- executive director. Mr Simon, aged 40, is an economics graduate of the University of Cambridge and a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales and of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants. Mr Simon is a sole practitioner in public practice. The Company intends to appoint a non-executive Chairman to the Board following completion of the Rights Issue and a further announcement will be made in due course. 29 March 2000 Enquiries: Peter Mottershead Ross Group PLC 01621 854499 Tim Redfern Beeson Gregory 020 7488 4040

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Ross Group (RGP)
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