Connect Group PLC

("Connect Group" or the "Company")

Notification of Change in Director's Role & Responsibilities

Connect Group, a leading specialist distributor operating in four divisions: News & Media, Books, Education & Care and Parcel Freight, confirms that Gary Kennedy, Chairman of the Board, has been temporarily appointed, with effect from 21 March 2017, as interim Chair of the Audit Committee following the resignation of Colin Child as non-executive director and Chair of the Audit Committee. Mr Kennedy possesses relevant and recent financial and business planning experience, was independent on his appointment to the Board as Chairman, and continues to display the required diligence, independence of judgement and challenge necessary to fulfil the responsibilities as interim Chair of the Audit Committee following Colin Child's decision to step down.

The Company is actively seeking to recruit a further independent non-executive director to join the Board and to Chair the Audit Committee, whereupon it is anticipated that Mr Kennedy will step down as interim Chair of the Audit Committee. There will be no change to Mr Kennedy's fees while he undertakes the additional responsibilities as interim Chair of the Audit Committee.

This notification is made pursuant to Listing Rule 9.6.11 of the Listing Rules of the UK Listing Authority.

Enquiries:

About Connect Group

Connect Group PLC is a leading specialist distributor operating in large and diverse markets. The Group has four separate divisions, connecting suppliers to customers in an efficient, knowledgeable and service oriented way:

·     Connect News & Media - Encompassing: Smiths News, Dawson Media Direct and Pass My Parcel. Smiths News is the UK's largest newspaper and magazine wholesaling business with an approximate 55 per cent. market share. It distributes newspapers and magazines on behalf of the majority of the major national publishers as well as a large number of regional publishers serving approximately 30,000 customers across England and Wales on a daily basis, including large general retailers as well as smaller independent newsagents with approximately 40 million newspapers supplied weekly; Dawson Media Direct is an international media direct business supplying newspapers, magazines and inflight entertainment technology and content to over 80 airlines in 50 countries. Pass My Parcel, a wholly-owned 'click and collect' delivery service, operated by the Smiths News business, has a network of over 3,000 parcel shops and clients which include Amazon and ASOS.

·     Connect Parcel Freight - Tuffnells is a leading provider of next-day B2B delivery of mixed parcel freight consignments, specialising in items of irregular dimension and weight ("IDW"), examples of which include bulky furnishings, building materials and automotive parts. Tuffnells offers distribution coverage throughout the UK through a network of 37 depots and operates a largely depot-to-depot operational model, delivering over 13 million consignments per annum, through a wide range of services to over 4,500 customers focusing on SMEs.

·     Connect Education & Care - An independent supplier of consumable products to the Education and Care markets through The Consortium and West Mercia Supplies. The division currently serves over 30,000 customers with an extensive range of over 40,000 products across a branded, own-brand and value range, including stationery, arts and craft and cleaning.

·     Connect Books - Combining a number of recognised brands in print and digital bookselling, including Bertrams, Dawson Books and Wordery. A leading distributor of printed and digital books, the division supplies a mix of traditional and online booksellers, academic and public libraries and direct to consumer through Wordery.