Acquisition

RNS Number:9581H
Bell Group PLC
26 February 2003

26th February 2003



                                 BELL GROUP PLC


          Bell expands into the #1.2bn European Access Control Market



Bell Group plc, the international designer, supplier, installer and distributor
of hi-tech security systems, announces today that it has acquired the operating
capability and assets of Maas Systems BV (based in Eindhoven, The Netherlands)
and Maas Systems Limited (based in London), subsidiaries of Maas International
Europe BV, for approximately #1.3m plus acquisition expenses.



Unaudited results for the acquired businesses, for the year ended 31 December
2002, show turnover of #5.3m with operating profit, pre interest and exceptional
costs, of #167,000. Net assets are #288,000.  Synergy benefits expected in 2003,
in the region of #200,000, will be reinvested in development of the acquired
business. The acquisition is expected to be earnings enhancing in 2003.



Operating in the #1.2bn European access control market, the Maas Systems profile
is very complementary with that of Bell in the electronic security market.
Within a total workforce of 36, Maas Systems' sales and systems design teams
provide solutions based on a number of market-leading, USA-derived access
control technologies. The impressive client portfolio of Maas includes
multi-national, blue chip companies and national government departments, which
shall considerably broaden the existing Bell client base.



Bell Group Chief Executive Pat Curran said:

"This acquisition provides a unique opportunity for combination of the product
range offerings of Bell and Maas and for a powerful extension of Bell's sales
capabilities in security and card management systems. As a result, our European
security systems coverage has been greatly expanded to encompass installations
for major international clients in territories including Austria, Belgium,
Germany, Italy, The Netherlands and Spain. We have also added a portfolio of
on-going trading partnerships with a number of strong, US-based technology
providers.



"The Maas deal is the most high profile of three structural changes made within
the last eight months. Last year we completed the acquisition of ViSEC Limited,
a small, UK-based, independent specialist CCTV provider, now integrated within
Bell Security Limited and we disposed of the regional businesses of Bell
Technology Services Pty Limited in Adelaide, South Australia. These changes
represent strategic initiatives to capitalise on growth opportunities in
complementary markets."



                                     -End-

Enquiries:
Bell Group:
Edwin Strang, Group Finance Director                          Tel: [phone]
Tim Harris, Marketing Communications Manager                  Tel: [phone]

Financial Dynamics:
Rob Gurner                                                    Tel: [phone]




Editors Note:



Bell Group plc floated on the London Stock Exchange in 1999. It specialises in
the development, supply, installation, management and maintenance of high
security systems for a wide range of markets, including banks, other financial
institutions, industrial and commercial enterprises, state, government and
diplomatic bodies. Bell Group's headquarters are in London and it has offices
throughout the UK and in Ireland, Sweden, The Netherlands, France, Switzerland,
Australia, the USA, and Hong Kong. For more information, visit the company's
website at www.BellGroupplc.com.



Maas International Europe BV is a private company based in Eindhoven, The
Netherlands. It is a leading provider of vending and cashless payment systems in
Europe, with an impressive client list in a wide range of markets. As a
consequence of the continuing focus on the European vending and cashless payment
systems business and the fact that the businesses of both Bell and Maas are
complementary to each other, Maas International Europe BV decided to sell her
security and card production businesses in The Netherlands, Germany and the
United Kingdom to Bell Group plc. For more information, visit the company's
website at www.maas.nl.


                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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