Premier Farnell plc - Interim Management Statement

14th November 2014

Premier Farnell plc ("the Group"), a global leader in the high service
distribution of technology products and solutions, today issues its interim
management statement for the period 4 August to 13 November 2014. The financial
and operational data set out below are in respect of the Group's third quarter
ended 2 November 2014.

Trading performance

Over the period, element14 sales per day grew 3.7% year on year, with continued
underlying momentum in the Americas, strong but moderating growth in Asia
Pacific, a robust performance in Continental Europe and the UK market impacted
by increased competition. Overall, Group sales per day grew 2.7% (including
Raspberry Pi), principally reflecting a lower contribution from Akron Brass
against exceptionally strong comparatives.

Gross margin declined 0.5 percentage points reflecting softer market conditions
in Asia and Europe as well as the mix of business. We expect gross margin to
increase in the fourth quarter but, given the recent trends through the third
quarter, we now anticipate that full year operating margin will be slightly
below prior year levels.

Divisional sales growth rates

Sales growth               Q3 2014/15       Q3 2014/15

                                            Excluding Raspberry Pi

element14

                    Europe       1.0%              1.6%

                      APAC      13.6%              13.1%

                  Americas       1.8%              3.9%

                                 2.5%              3.7%

CPC & MCM (MDD other)            9.2%              5.6%

Akron Brass (IPD)               -5.8%              -5.8%

Group                            2.7%              3.1%

Note: Sales growth is based on sales per day for continuing businesses at
constant exchange rates and for like periods. For reference, in the third
quarter, the average exchange rates for sterling against the US dollar and the
Euro were, respectively, £1 = US$1.63 (Q3 2013/14: £1 = US$1.59) and £1 = €1.27
(Q3 2013/14: £1 = €1.17).

Europe delivered third quarter sales per day growth of 1.6%1 despite more
challenging market conditions throughout Europe in September and October. We
have strengthened our management team with the appointment of a new Business
President for sales and marketing in Europe.

Asia Pacific sales growth remains strong but moderated in the third quarter
with sales per day up 13.1%1. The region's emerging markets provide the Group
with significant growth opportunities.

Americas' sales per day grew 3.9%1 year on year. This was the third consecutive
quarter of improved underlying sales growth, following investments in Americas'
product range, as well as the implementation of our new web platform in the
region last year. With the launch of further online enhancements over the
coming months, we are confident that our Americas business has the foundation
to attract and retain profitable engineering and manufacturing customers and
deliver improved medium term financial performance.

CPC & MCM's third quarter sales performance remained strong, up 9.2% year on
year (5.6% ex Raspberry Pi). CPC & MCM have benefitted from selling Raspberry
Pi by leveraging their product range to `maker' and hobbyist customers.

Sales in our Industrial Products Division, Akron Brass, declined 5.8% against
exceptionally strong comparatives as a result of the major contract win with
the Hindustan Petroleum Company Limited in the second half last year. The
current year has seen a delay in a number of larger international projects
which means that, adjusted for currency, we now expect Akron Brass' full year
sales and operating profit to be broadly consistent with the prior year. Akron
Brass continues to execute its strategy and is well placed to drive future
financial performance.

We remain focused on the execution of our strategic priorities with some
notable progress made through the period:

  * New web platform now live across Continental Europe; first implementation
    in Asia completed.

  * Continued progress to enhance offering at front end of technology:

      + Sales of development kits rose 24.9% year on year.

      + Exclusive software distribution agreement signed with Altium to enhance
        engineering customers' offering.

  * Refinancing of the company's banking debt completed providing the Group
    with funding through September 2019.

Laurence Bain, Group Chief Executive Officer, commented:

"We made good progress in the execution of our strategy in the third quarter
with underlying sales growth from element14 up 3.7% year on year. Gross margin
declined 0.5 percentage points reflecting softer market conditions in Asia and
Europe as well as the mix of business during the quarter. Whilst we expect
gross margin to increase in the fourth quarter, we now anticipate that the
impact of a softer trading environment and lower gross margin for the year will
result in full year operating margin slightly below prior year levels.
Following the completion of the planned strategic investments over the
remainder of this year and the global reorganisation of our element14
distribution business, the Group will be well positioned to accelerate its
top-line growth and deliver profitability in line with our targeted operating
margin range of 10% to 12% through-the-cycle."

A conference call for analysts and investors will be held at 8.00am on 14
November 2014, details for which are as follows:

Participant Access: Dial in 5-10 minutes prior to the start time using the
number / Conference ID below.

   Confirmation    9381507
   Code:

   Dial-in:        +44(0)20 3427 1909

For further information, contact:

Laurence Bain, Chief Executive   Premier Farnell plc    +44 (0) 20 7851 4107
Officer

Mark Whiteling, Chief Financial
Officer

Thomas Churchill, Investor
Relations

Richard Mountain                 FTI Consulting         +44 (0) 20 3727 1374

Premier Farnell's announcements and presentations are published at www.
premierfarnell.com together with business information and links to all other
Group web sites.

The 2013/14 Annual Report and Accounts is now available for download at
reporting2014.premierfarnell.com. The results for the 52 week financial year
ending 1 February 2015 will be announced on 19 March 2015.