RNS Number:7213S
Compel Group PLC
02 December 2003


                                                               2 December 2003

                                COMPEL GROUP PLC

     ACQUISITION OF THE BUSINESS AND ASSETS OF SYSCAP COMPUTER RENTALS PLC

Compel Group PLC (Compel) is pleased to announce that it has acquired the
business and assets of a major short term IT rental company, Syscap Computer
Rentals plc (SCR), a subsidiary of Syscap plc, for cash consideration of
approximately #2.6 million.

SCR provided short term rental of predominantly Sun and Hewlett Packard based
mid-range and enterprise IT systems to UK customers, largely within the IT
industry. SCR was established in 1992 and currently employs 34 staff based at
two locations in the south east of England.

The business will be integrated into Compel's rental division, Hamilton Rentals.
The acquisition will substantially strengthen Hamilton Rentals' market leading
position, in an otherwise fragmented market. Such market leadership is of
particularly substantive benefit in short term rental where presence,
visibility, availability and size and breadth of rental fleet are key to
customers.

The acquisition will also bring a wide range of new customers, which will
broaden and strengthen Hamilton Rentals' customer base, and a number of high
quality employees, including technical, operational and sales staff.

Excluding one-off integration costs, the acquisition is expected to be earnings
enhancing for Compel.

Further details of the acquisition

Compel has acquired, subject to Completion Accounts, the rental assets of SCR
for approximately #2.8 million, representing a 20 per cent discount to their net
book value. In addition, Compel has acquired other assets valued at
approximately #0.1 million, and the consideration has been reduced to take
account of deferred income totalling approximately #0.3 million. Thus, the
consideration for this transaction, which has been paid in cash out of Compel's
existing cash resources, was approximately #2.6 million. Debtors, creditors and
all other liabilities remain the responsibility of SCR. The business was
acquired for #1 and no goodwill will arise from this transaction.

SCR's audited accounts for the year ended 31 March 2003 show turnover of #7.5
million and operating losses (pre goodwill, but after substantial losses on
discontinued operations and restructuring costs) of #1.7 million. SCR's
management took action to reduce the cost base of the business during that
period and current management accounts indicate that the business is
approximately breaking even at the operating level.

Compel plans to wholly integrate the business into its Hamilton Rentals
division, including rationalising premises and staff to reduce the combined cost
base. Compel will take a charge of approximately #0.3 million during this half
year to cover the one-off costs of this integration and all transaction costs
associated with this acquisition.

The Directors of Compel believe the acquisition to be very low risk, given
Compel's understanding of SCR's business and marketplace, and that it is a
transaction based on prudently valued assets.

Commenting on the acquisition, Neville Davis, Compel's Chief Executive, said:
"This is an excellent acquisition for Compel. Hamilton Rentals is the long term
market leader in its sector and this transaction materially strengthens that
position.

"Syscap Computer Rentals has some great customers, to whom we will ensure we
provide a very good service. I am certain that Syscap Computer Rentals'
excellent employees will fit well into Hamilton Rentals."

                                    - ends -

For further information please contact:

Compel Group PLC                                                  01438 791 461
Neville Davis, Chief Executive

Weber Shandwick Square Mile                                       020 7067 0700
Nick Oborne/Sally Lewis




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