Trading Statement

Diploma PLC
27 September 2006


 
     FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


                                                              27 September 2006

     TRADING UPDATE

     Diploma PLC, the specialised international distribution group, is today
     giving a trading update, ahead of entering into close period for the
     Company's results for the year ending 30 September 2006.

     The Group's North American businesses have shown good growth, year on year,
     and the results have also benefited from the acquisition of HKX. In the UK
     and Continental European businesses, the focus on more buoyant sectors
     including Defence, Aerospace, Motorsport and Environmental have contributed
     to enhanced results. The Group therefore expects to report results for the
     full year ending 30 September 2006 which will both demonstrate further
     progress and be slightly ahead of market expectations.

     It is expected that the Preliminary Results for the year ended 30 September
     2006 will be announced on Monday, 13 November 2006. There will be an
     analyst presentation of the results at the offices of Bankside Consultants
     Limited, 1 Frederick's Place, London, EC2R 8AE, at 9.00 am on that day.


     For further information, please contact:

     Bruce Thompson, Chief Executive Officer         020 7638 0934
     Nigel Lingwood, Group Finance Director          020 7448 4875
     Ian Seaton, Bankside Consultants                020 7367 8891




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