LONDON, March 7 /PRNewswire/ --

- Acquisition Will Strengthen ERP Vendor's Position in Key Vertical 
Markets

Solarsoft Business Systems announced today that the board of Chelford 
Group plc ("Chelford") has agreed to recommend an offer by Solarsoft 
Acquisition Limited ("Solarsoft") to acquire Chelford.

Chelford, a company admitted to trading on AIM (a market
operated by the London Stock Exchange), provides specialist solutions in the
areas of supply chain management, ERP, manufacturing, warehousing and
distribution, asset tracking and financials. Since admission to AIM in 2000,
Chelford has become a leading provider of enterprise solutions based upon its
own intellectual property SAP, Microsoft and CODA software products.

Commenting on the offer, Shawn McMorran, Chief Executive of
Solarsoft Business Systems said: "Chelford is an excellent fit with Solarsoft
Business Systems, and our overall strategy to build significant value by
acquiring small to medium-sized, complementary ERP software companies.
Solarsoft Business Systems will, with this acquisition, expand the scale of
its operations, the range of its product offering and vertical market
expertise. Chelford's employees and customers will benefit from being part of
a much larger organisation."

"We believe that it is in the best interest of the Chelford
Group to combine with an external partner to support our growth and potential
in a consolidating market. A combination with Solarsoft Business Systems will
provide additional financial and other resources to support the ongoing
development of the Chelford Group for the benefit of customers, employees and
suppliers," said William Birkett, the Chairman of Chelford.

Shawn McMorran added: "Solarsoft Business Systems has an
established position in discrete manufacturing systems and Chelford's
strengths in fast-moving process industries are complementary to that.
Bringing Chelford's product businesses into Solarsoft Business Systems will
allow us to accelerate the alignment of our business increasingly along
industry vertical lines. Chelford's SAP Solutions division will operate
independently as a distinct division within Solarsoft Business Systems in
order to preserve the value already created for the Chelford brand in this
activity."

About Solarsoft Business Systems

Solarsoft Business Systems provides modern enterprise software and IT
services to manufacturers, distributors and wholesale businesses in North
America, Europe and Asia. The company has grown organically and through
acquisition since 1986 and employs nearly 350 people providing local support
across 16 time zones. Over 1,700 companies rely on Solarsoft to bring clarity
and efficiency to their daily operations. Solarsoft Acquisition Limited is a
new company formed at the direction of Marlin Equity Partners. Solarsoft
Business Systems is backed by Marlin Equity Partners, an independent
investment firm.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
    Solarsoft Business Systems
    Susan Hilliar
    T: +44(0)8447-700-900 ext. 5519

    Chelford Group plc
    Trevor C. Lewis, Chief Executive
    T: +44(0)1256-685-400

    Press Contact:
    Will Gardiner
    itpr
    T: +44(0)1932-578800
    willg@itpr.co.uk