Acquisition

RNS Number:6311O
Meriden Group PLC
13 August 2003

12 August 2003 

Enquiries:

Russell Stevens                       07860 562621 
Chief Executive                       [e-mail]

Hugh Oram                             020 7710 7400 
Nabarro Wells & Co. Limited           [e-mail]

                    Meriden Group Plc (the "Group")

        Acquisition of the Business Assets of Eltora Digital Limited

The Group is delighted to announce the acquisition of the business assets of
Eltora Digital Limited (hereinafter referred to as the "Eltora Business") for a
consideration of #116,292, to be satisfied entirely by loan notes.

The Eltora Business

The Eltora Business commenced trading in November 2001 from the Group's Centre
of excellence in the West Midlands and supplies computer equipment and
peripheral devices together with related support services to a wide range of SME
clients. A summary of the latest trading results of the Eltora Business are
provided below:

                                1 month ended   7 months ended  12 Months ended 
                                30 June 2003    31 May 2003     31 October 2002 
                                (unaudited)      (unaudited)       (unaudited)
                                     #               #                 #

Turnover                              115,582          705,887          819,589 

Cost of sales                         (97,873)        (611,962)        (712,649)

                                     --------         --------        ---------
Gross Profit                           17,709           93,925          106,940

Administration Expenses               (19,368)        (130,032)        (227,926)

                                     --------         --------        ---------
Operating Profit/(Loss)                (1,659)         (36,107)        (120,356)

Interest Receivable                         -            3,022            3,093
Interest Payable                            -                -             (185)

                                     --------         --------        ---------
Profit/(Loss) on ordinary activities   (1,659)         (33,085)        (117,448) 
before taxation

Taxation                                    -                -                -

                                     --------         --------        ---------             
Profit/(Loss) for the financial period (1,659)         (33,085)        (117,448)
                                     ========         ========        =========

The directors are confident that the Eltora Business, following the acquisition
by Meriden, will be profitable, the Eltora Business having been established in
the first 20 months of trading and through a reduction in the overhead base
as a result of the acquisition by Meriden.

Consideration and Assets Acquired

The consideration is payable entirely by secured interest bearing loan notes
which must be satisfied on 31 October 2004, but can be satisfied in part or in
full at any time up to this date. The loan notes bear interest at 2% above the
base rate of Barclays Bank Plc. Meriden will be entitled to deduct from the
value of the loan note any losses incurred by the Eltora Business in the twelve
months post acquisition, although as stated previously the directors do not
anticipate any.

The trading assets of the Eltora Business that the Group have acquired comprise 
the following:

                                             # 
Stocks and work in progress                  116,291 
Trading name, employees and goodwill               1

Total                                        116,292

The value of the stock and work in progress is based on a valuation carried out
on 11 August 2003 and Eltora Digital Limited has provided Meriden with
warranties as to the condition and value of the assets acquired. The Group have
not acquired the debtors or creditors of Eltora Digital Limited and therefore
the collection and payment of these respectively will remain the responsibility
of Eltora Digital Limited. Any warranty claims are also deductible from the loan
note.

Employees

The sole director of Eltora Digital Limited will resign as a director and join
Meriden as a divisional manager and will be awarded 1,000,000 share options,
which is the share option package offered to divisional managers who join the
Group. In addition, all other employees of Eltora Digital Limited have been
transferred to Meriden.

Benefit of Acquisition to Meriden

The acquisition of the Eltora Business will strengthen the existing Information
Technology Systems and Assurance division within Meriden, which has to date
outsourced the supply of hardware when providing IT solutions to its clients.
The acquisition of the Eltora Business will therefore enable Meriden to provide
a complete IT solutions service to its clients and also broaden the client
base of the division.

Related Party Disclosure

This transaction is a related party transaction as defined in the AIM rules by
virtue of the fact that Linda Jane Hingley, the wife of Russell Stevens, holds
47.5% of the ordinary share capital in Eltora Digital Limited. Russell Stevens
is the Chief Executive of Meriden and holds 80% of its issued share capital.

The Directors, excluding Russell Stevens, consider, having consulted with the
Company's Nominated Adviser, that the terms of the transaction are fair and
reasonable insofar as the Company's shareholders are concerned.



                      This information is provided by RNS
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