M.A.I.D First Quarter Revenues Up 58%, U.S. RevenuesMore Than Double.

CARY, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 15, 1997--

Company Reports Net Income of $1.0 Million After Exceptional

Item

M.A.I.D plc (NASDAQ: MAIDY), the leading online supplier of business intelligence, today announced that total revenues for the first quarter

ended March 31, 1997, were $10.7 million, up 58% compared with $6.8 million for the first quarter of 1996. Gross profit rose 87% to $5.8 million. A one-time capital gain of $5.7 million, which included shares received from Fourth Communications Network in association with the transfer by M.A.I.D of its hotel technology, resulted in net income of $1.0 million, or $0.04 per American Depositary Share ("ADS"). The comparative net loss for the 1996 first quarter was $4.0 million, or $0.18 per ADS.

Cash outflow was reduced by 41%, or $1.3 million, compared with the fourth quarter of 1996, which in turn was down 48% compared with the third quarter of 1996. The period-end cash position was $11.3 million.

"The year 1997 has started well for the company, with revenues continuing a growth trend in direct sales activity established last year," said Michael Mander, Chairman. "New customer gains in the quarter were 650, representing a year-over-year increase of 62%."

Mr. Mander added that, as anticipated in the plan for the current year, U.S. customer gains have been particularly successful achieving an 80% increase in the number of new subscribers over the 1996 first quarter, all gained at a higher average value. As a result, the U.S. business contributed $3.8 million in revenues, up 102% from last year's first quarter.

Sales and marketing costs declined to 52% of revenues, compared with an average of 66% for the year ended December 31, 1996, reflecting the company's improved sales targeting strategy. Furthermore, the company's operating costs have decreased by $1.3 million since the fourth quarter of 1996.

Alliance Relationships

During the quarter, the company continued to establish alliances with corporate partners that can extend and strengthen global distribution. The transfer of the company's South African distributorship to Primedia, one of the largest media groups in the region, and a similar arrangement with Fujitsu, Japan's largest computer company, provide substantial foundations upon which to build the business in these regions.

"We anticipate revenues from these partnerships to be derived from increased sales of the company's direct product range, Profound, in addition to the development of locally focused business services targeting a new and broader customer base," stated Mr. Mander.

The company also partnered during the quarter with the South China Morning Post, the leading English-language newspaper in Hong Kong. Under the terms of the contract, M.A.I.D will design, build and maintain a business service that will be a key component of the South China Morning Post's interactive service strategy on the Internet. This service is due to be launched later this year.

The transfer of the company's Internet in Hotel technology and distribution contracts to San Jose, Calif.-based Fourth Communications Network generated a substantial return on a non-core technology within 12 months of development. This has provided the company with an exceptional profit as well as a firm long-term global position in this sector.

The combined technologies and hotel contracts place Fourth Communications Network in an advantageous position in the business of providing hotel groups with Internet access as well as a range of complementary business services.

Under the terms of the agreement, M.A.I.D received a 10% equity stake in Fourth Communications Network and will receive 10% of global Internet access revenues for the next 30 years, supported by substantial guaranteed revenues as well as retaining the agency for Fourth Communications Network in Europe.

InfoSort - Creating a Standard

At the beginning of April, M.A.I.D agreed to enter into a technology initiative with AltaVista, a leading Internet search engine widely recognized for its speed of searching.

Under the terms of the agreement, the companies will develop jointly and market a range of corporate Intranet and general Internet software solutions that are based on a fusion of M.A.I.D's InfoSort data-indexing tools and the AltaVista search engine. The agreement is expected to result in one of the world's fastest and most accurate data-retrieval engines for business applications.

New Products

Following careful evaluation of market changes brought about by the adoption of Internet technology by corporations worldwide, the company has updated its product range to reflect current and anticipated market needs.

Two new and complementary products for the corporate marketplace, Profound LiveWire and Profound for Intranets, have been extensively demonstrated to existing customers and controlled beta trials are currently underway.

M.A.I.D has consolidated 27 newswires into Profound LiveWire, a fixed-price service that provides executives with breaking stories that are directly relevant to their information needs. Due to the open standards of the Internet, M.A.I.D can provide a very competitively priced service, dramatically undercutting existing services whose proprietary networks prevent them from offering similarly priced products. Customer interest in both products is positive, and a number of customized Intranet contracts have been awarded and are currently being implemented.

"The Board looks forward with confidence to reporting further growth and improvement in the company's operating performance for the remainder of 1997 and beyond," concluded Mr. Mander.

About M.A.I.D

Established in 1985, M.A.I.D is a leading online supplier of business intelligence services to professionals worldwide. The company's core product Profound includes market research reports, real-time and archived business news, company statistics, brokerage research, economic analyses, and up-to-date stock market and commodity prices. With regional headquarters in London, Cary, N.C., and Hong Kong, M.A.I.D is traded on NASDAQ and the London Stock Exchange. Additional information about the company is available at http://www.maid.com.

Except for any historical information contained herein, the matters discussed in this news release are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including the successful negotiations of new alliances, the timely development of products, the impact of competitive products and pricing, and other risks detailed from time to time in the company's U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission reports. -0-

M.A.I.D PLC

CONSOLIDATED INCOME & EXPENDITURE STATEMENT (unaudited)
FOR THE QUARTER ENDED MARCH 31, 1997 (U.S. GAAP basis)

                                         Three Months Ended
                                            March 31,
                                         1997            1996
                                         $'000           $'000

REVENUES                                10,652           6,758

Cost of sales                          (4,807)          (3,635)
GROSS PROFIT                             5,845           3,123

Selling and  marketing expenses        (5,494)          (4,115)
Research and development expenses      (1,684)          (1,529)
General and administrative expenses    (1,651)          (2,200)
LOSS FROM OPERATIONS                   (2,984)          (4,721)
Exceptional item                        5,745                -
INCOME/(LOSS) FROM OPERATIONS
BEFORE INTEREST AND PROVISION FOR
 INCOME TAXES                           2,761           (4,721)

Interest income                           164              852

Interest expense                          (62)             (93)
INCOME/(LOSS) BEFORE PROVISION FOR
 INCOME TAXES                           2,863           (3,962)

Provision for income taxes             (1,824)             (64)
INCOME/LOSS AFTER PROVISION FOR
 INCOME TAXES                           1,039           (4,026)

Minority equity interest                  (18)              (3)

NET INCOME/(LOSS)                       1,021           (4,029)
Net income/(loss) per share (in
 dollars)                               0.011           (0.044)

Shares used in computing net
 income/(loss) per share (thousands)   92,720           91,763
Equivalent net income/(loss) per
 ADS (in dollars)(a)                    0.044           (0.176)

(a) Each ADS represents four Ordinary shares

The company maintains its books and records in accordance with U.K.
generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). The financial
results set forth above represent the company's financial results
under U.K. GAAP converted to U.S. GAAP and translated for
convenience into U.S. dollars at the rate of US$: 1.6420, being the
rate of exchange on March 31, 1997, the last trading day of the
period.
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M.A.I.D PLC

SUMMARIZED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET DATA (unaudited)
AS AT  MARCH  31, 1997 (U.S. GAAP basis)

                            March 31,    March 31,   December 31,

                               1997         1996           1996
                            US$'000      US$'000        US$'000

ASSETS
Current assets               24,052       38,746         25,560
Investments                  11,054        3,505          3,505
Fixed assets, net            11,518       11,208         11,480
System and product                             -              -
development costs                 -

Total assets                 46,624       53,459         40,545

LIABILITIES AND
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities          21,948       14,156         16,945
Long-term liabilities           968        2,259          1,307
Minority equity interest         55           33             71
Shareholders' equity         23,653       37,011         22,222

Total liabilities and        46,624       53,459         40,545
shareholders' equity

The company maintains its books and records in accordance with U.K.
generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). The financial
results set forth above represent the company's financial results
under U.K. GAAP converted to U.S. GAAP and translated for
convenience into U.S. dollars at the rate of US$: 1.6420, being the
rate of exchange on March 31, 1997, the last trading day of the
period.
-0-
M.A.I.D PLC

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED INCOME & EXPENDITURE STATEMENT
ANALYSIS OF REVENUES

The breakdown of revenues is analyzed as follows:
                                     Three Months Ended

                                        March 31,
                                      1997   1996

Usage sales                            43%    53%
Subscriptions sales                    51%    46%
Other sales                             6%     1%

                                      100%   100%


The breakdown of revenues by market destination is
analyzed as follows:


                                   Three Months Ended
                                        March 31,
                                     1997    1996

Europe, Middle East and Africa        57%     67%
The Americas                          36%     28%
Asia Pacific                           7%      5%
                                     100%    100%

The company maintains its books and records in accordance with U.K.
generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). The financial
results set forth above represent the company's financial results
under U.K. GAAP converted to U.S. GAAP and translated for
convenience into U.S. dollars at the rate of US$: 1.6420, being the
rate of exchange on March 31, 1997, the last trading day of the
period.

General

    These results are unaudited and do not constitute statutory
accounts within the meaning of Section 240 of the Companies Act 1985.
The financial statements for the year ended December 31, 1996, have
been reported on by the Company's auditors, Price Waterhouse, and
will be delivered to the Registrar of Companies following the Annual
General Meeting on May 29, 1997. The audit report was not qualified
and neither did it contain any statements under Section 237 (2) or
(3) of the Companies Act 1985. The unaudited results for the three
months ended March 31, 1997 have been prepared in accordance with the
accounting policies stated in the 1996 Annual Report and Accounts, as
adjusted for the differences between U.K. and U.S. generally
accepted accounting principles.
    Copies of the Group's full report and accounts will be sent to
all shareholders. Additional copies will be available from:
    U.S. Head Office: 11000 Regency Parkway, Cary, North Carolina,
27511
    Registered office: M.A.I.D plc, The Communications Building, 48
Leicester Square London WC2H 7DB
    Home page: http://www.maid.com

CONTACT: Bruce Voss

Shandwick for M.A.I.D plc

(310) 201-8802

e-mail: bvoss@shandwick.com

or

David Mattey

M.A.I.D plc

011 44 171 930-6900

e-mail: david_mattey@maid.com