Contents :

We refer to your letter of 27 March 2001 and wish to provide our explanations with regards to the difference in Abric Group’s profit after taxation and minority interests (PAT&MI) for the year ended 31 December 2000 as reported in our fourth quarter announcement, and the forecast PAT&MI for the same financial year as disclosed in the Abridged Prospectus dated 29 August 2000 as follows:

	Note	RM’000
PAT&MI as per:
Fourth quarter announcement		20,285
Abridged Prospectus		9,713
Difference		10,572
The difference is due mainly to:
(1) Exceptional item	1	7,857
(2) Non inclusion of the results of e-LOCKED Inc. group of companies in the forecast	2	2,088
(3) Others		627
		10,572

NOTE

1. Exceptional item

The exceptional item is in respect of the gain arising from the disposal of the Group’s 100% equity interest in Abric Cladding Sdn Bhd which was not included in the forecast as this represents non-recurring income.

2. Non inclusion of the results of e-LOCKED Inc. group of companies in the forecast

The forecast PAT&MI for the year ended 31 December 2000 does not include the results of e-LOCKED Inc. group of companies as these companies were newly incorporated and the Board of Directors were unsure of the earnings contribution from these companies.

With the exclusion of the financial effects of the abovementioned two factors, the difference in PAT&MI between the fourth quarter announcement and the Abridged Prospectus would amount to RM627,000, representing 6.45% of the forecast PAT&MI of RM9,713,000 for the year ended 31 December 2000.

Please do not hesitate to contact us should you require further clarification on the foregoing matter.

Yours very truly,

William Soong Chee Keong
Executive Director

Query Letter Contents :

We refer to your Company's announcement in respect of the abovecaptioned
matter.
We note that the group's profit after taxation and minority interests for the
year ended 31 December 2000 amounts to RM20,285,000.
However, on page 30 of your Company's Abridged Prospectus dated 29 August 2000,
a consolidated profit after taxation and minority interests of RM9,713,000 was
forecasted for the abovementioned financial year.
In accordance with the Exchange's Listing Requirements, kindly furnish the
Exchange immediately with your detailed explanation on the above difference for
public release.

Yours faithfully


TAN YEW ENG
Senior Manager
Listing Operations

TYE/KHB