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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549
FORM 6-K
REPORT OF FOREIGN ISSUER
PURSUANT TO RULE 13A-16 OR 15D-15 OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the month of July 17, 1997
Micro Focus Group Public Limited Company
(Translation of Registrant's Name Into English)
The Lawn, Old Bath Road, Newbury, England RG14 1QN
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
(Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file
annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.)
Form 20-F __X__ Form 40-F _____
(Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the
information contained in this form is also thereby furnishing the information to
the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934.)
Yes __X__ No _____
(If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the
registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2 (b): 82-795.)
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UK: 12:45 pm BST Thursday US: 7:45 am EDT Thursday
July 17, 1997 July 17, 1997
Please Contact: J. Michael Gullard US 415-988-9203
Chairman UK 01635-32646
Giles Sanderson UK 0171-831-3113
Edward Bridges
Financial Dynamics
MICRO FOCUS, LEADING TOOLS SUPPLIER FOR ENTERPRISE
APPLICATION SYSTEMS, ANNOUNCES MARTIN WATERS AS
NEW PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Former CEO Marcelo Gumucio Praised By Board
For Improving Company Profitability
London, England and Palo Alto, California, (July 17, 1997) -- Micro Focus Group
Plc (NASDAQ: MIFGY) today announced the appointment of Martin Waters as
President and Chief Executive Officer, following the resignation of Marcelo
Gumucio. Gumucio, CEO since April 1996, was responsible for improving operations
and increasing profitability for the company. He will return to Gumucio, Burke
and Associates, a family-owned investment firm, and will also continue with
Micro Focus in a consulting capacity.
Martin Waters brings to Micro Focus over 20 years experience in managing
successful information technology operations. Previously he was President and
CEO of Platinum Solutions, Inc., the professional services subsidiary of
Platinum Technology, Inc. Prior to that, he was President and CEO of Locus
Computing Corporation and has extensive experience in managing emerging growth
technology companies. Martin Waters was born and educated in the UK and holds a
Ph.D. in Electronics from Southampton University, England.
J. Michael Gullard, Chairman of the Board at Micro Focus said, "Martin brings a
wealth of experience in both management and software development. His ability to
visualize customer needs and to create compelling solutions to meet those needs
will be a great asset. Martin will be able to build on the profitable structure
that Marcelo Gumucio helped to create over the past eighteen months. The Company
continues to have increasing revenue and a strong cash position. Revenue and
profits are consistent with our expectations and our plans for the year."
Micro Focus intends to announce its results for the quarter ending July 31, 1997
on August 14, 1997.
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Micro Focus provides tools and technology to help corporations meet changing
business requirements. The Company's state-of-the-art programming solutions
allow application developers to manage and extend their enterprise applications
for Distributed Computing - developing and deploying production systems in
distributed environments; Legacy Solutions - moving application development and
maintenance off the mainframe; and Year 2000 assessment and implementation -
providing solutions for preparing systems to handle the millennium date change.
In the US, Micro Focus is located at 2465 East Bayshore Road, Palo Alto
California 94303. Telephone: 415-856-4161. In the UK the Company is located at
The Lawn, Old Bath Road, Newbury, Berkshire, RG14 1QN - telephone 01635 32646.
For additional information on Micro Focus and its products visit Micro Focus'
Web site at http://www.microfocus.com.
The following statement is made in accordance with the U.S. Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act 1995: This Press Release contains forward-looking
statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. There are certain
important factors that could cause results to differ materially from those
anticipated by the statements made herein. Factors that could cause actual
results to differ materially are the following: the ability of the Company to
develop and release to the market products and services that meet the needs of
the Company's customers in the highly dynamic market for application development
tools, the potential need for development tools to shift based on changes in
underlying technology standards coming into use, the potential for a decrease in
revenue which may be caused by delays in the timing of the delivery of products
or services, the effect of competitors' efforts to enter the Company's markets,
and the ability of the Company to effectively manage its costs against uncertain
revenue expectations. Further information on potential factors which could
affect the Company's financial results is included on the Company's Form 20-F
for the fiscal year ended January 31, 1997 filed with the SEC, as may be updated
or amended with future
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
Micro Focus Group Public Limited Company
(Registrant)
Date: July 17, 1997 By: /s/ Loren E. Hillberg
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Loren E. Hillberg
Vice President and General Counsel
