Western Europe Personal Computer Application Software Sales Reach $1.8
Billion in 1994 After Difficult Third Quarter, Most Markets Rebound in Q4

March 20, 1995 (Washington, DC) - The Software Publishers Association (SPA)
announced today that personal computer software sales in Western Europe in
1994 were $1.801 million for all of 1994, a 4% increase over 1993. Unit
sales for the period were up 69%. For the fourth quarter of 1994 (Q4 '94),
sales were $540 million, an 11% increase from the fourth quarter of 1993
(Q4 '93). Unit sales in Q4 '94 were up 56%.

Fourth Quarter Sales Show Rebound From Bad Q3

"That software sales were able to grow 11% in the quarter is great news
after Q3's decline of 19%," said SPA Europe Executive Director Gerard
Gabella. "Hopefully, it indicates that Q3 was a one-quarter hiccup, and
that the industry will go forward with solid results in Europe in 1995."

Growth in the Q4 '94 period was accelerating as compared to the full year
averages: Software sales growth was higher than the full year growth in
seven of the ten Western Europe markets in which SPA tracks sales.
Germany/Austria, the largest market in Western Europe, was the only market
in which sales declined both in the Q4 '94 and full year periods. For
1994, sales were $474.5 million, a 10% decline. The UK/Ireland market,
second largest in Europe, recovered from an 11% decline in Q3 '94 and
managed to post a 7% increase for the year. Software sales in UK/Ireland
were $432.6 million in 1994. In France, the third largest market in
Western Europe, 1994 software sales were $288 million, matching 1993's
sales. After being flat or down all year, sales in France rebounded nicely
in Q4 '94, reaching $103 million, a 31% increase.

Macintosh Software Out-Sells DOS Software In Western Europe In Q4

For the first time in any quarter, more Macintosh software than DOS
software was sold in Western Europe in Q4 '94. Sales of Macintosh software
increased 36% to $46.5 million in Q4 '94, while DOS applications' sales
declined 52% to $38.0 million.

In spite of Macintosh gains, Windows software continues to hold the
dominant share in Western Europe. For the year, Windows applications sales
were up 20% to $1.5 billion, and accounted for 84% of the applications
software sold in Europe by reporting firms. Sales of Macintosh
applications were $128 million for the year, up 5%, while sales of DOS
applications were $147 million, down 53%.

Thirty-nine primarily US-based software firms participated in the SPA's
data program by submitting confidential data to the accounting firm of
Arthur Andersen, which prepared the report for the SPA. Among the
participants are: Adobe, Borland, Claris, Lotus, Microsoft, Software
Publishing, Symantec, and the WordPerfect Division of Novell. The sales
data were collected in 33 software categories (including word processors,
spreadsheets, presentation graphics, and others) and in six operating
systems (including DOS, Macintosh, and Windows).

The Software Publishers Association is the principal trade association of
the PC software industry. Its 1,100 members represent the leading
publishers in the business, consumer, and education markets. The SPA has
offices in Washington, DC, and Paris, France. SPA press releases are
available on-line through CompuServe (GO:SPAFORUM), and from SPA's faxback
service at 800 637-6823.

Software Publishers Association
1730 M St, Northwest, Suite 700, Washington, D.C. 20036
202-452-1600,  Fax: 202-223-8756

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