to Build SA’s Leading Technology Services Business for Retail and Consumer Goods Manufacturing Industries

UCS extends onsite services resources and capabilities by acquiring leading implementation and maintenance provider to retail industry in a R48 million deal Cape Town – 13 July 2005 – UCS Group, South Africa’s leading provider of technology and business solutions to the retail sector, has entered into an agreement to acquire CEB Maintenance to bring additional strength to its services and maintenance offerings. JSE-listed UCS Group counts 13 out of 15 of SA’s top retailers as its clients along with selected key consumer goods manufacturers, providing them with advanced software products, technology solutions and business consulting services.

The acquisition is valued at approximately R48-million in cash. No changes to management or staff are envisioned at CEB, which will become a subsidiary of UCS Solutions. CEB provides third-party implementation and maintenance services, including contractual onsite support services, installation, maintenance and depot repair on all point of sale and desktop computer equipment for the retail industry.

 “UCS offers the widest range of software, technology solutions and services to the retail and consumer goods industry in Southern Africa. As the retail industry changes, with companies increasingly focusing on their core businesses and outsourcing more of their support and services, we saw a need to grow our offering in this area. CEB Maintenance is a perfect match, with its national footprint, services that are complementary to UCS Solutions, and a favourable overlap in its customer base,” says Richard Newton, CEO of UCS Solutions. “We can now provide customers with a consistently high level of service from implementation right through to ongoing maintenance, using industry best-practices in remote system monitoring, a 24x7 call centre, backed up by a large, well trained team of onsite support staff.”

CEB Maintenance has been in operation since 1987, and is South Africa’s largest specialist Point of Sale (POS) maintenance company, with turnover of R130 million, 530 staff and 14 branches in SA, Namibia and Botswana. Its customers include Foschini, Pick’n’Pay, Woolworths, Shoprite Checkers, Clicks, Mr Price, Truworths and Spar franchisees. “Becoming part of the UCS Group is great news for CEB and for our customers, as we have a stronger financial position to invest in spares, infrastructure and call-centre facilities to provide faster onsite support, as well incorporating the improved client support processes of UCS Solutions. The management team and staff will stay the same, and the company will continue to run as an autonomous operation within the larger group.

We are very excited about our prospects into the future,” said Barry Dodds, Managing Director of CEB Maintenance. This transaction is subject to Competition Commission approval and will be effective from close of business on 30 September 2005. The acquisition of CEB Maintenance is in line with the strategy outlined by UCS Group in its last financial report to strengthen its market position in providing service to end-user devices. UCS Group revenues for 2004 were in excess of R480million, the majority (58%) being annuity based.

MEDIA CONTACT: UCS Solutions Richard Newton Tel: 021 680 4002 Email: richard.newton@ucs-solutions.co.za