Trading Statement

Wolseley PLC 21 January 2002 NEWS RELEASE 21 January 2002 Wolseley plc Pre Close Period Trading Update Following the events of 11 September we issued a comprehensive trading update statement on 13 December 2001, the day prior to the company's Annual General Meeting ('AGM'). In accordance with our usual practice, we are issuing today a pre half year end update on the current trading of the group and the business outlook. There will be a conference call for analysts this morning, further details of which are set out below, to provide an opportunity to ask questions about the pre close period trading update. Taking into account trading over the additional five weeks since the AGM, there has been no significant change to the group's overall trading position or the outlook as stated in the 13 December statement. For the five months ended 31 December 2001 group sales are up over 13% (including acquisitions) on the corresponding period in the previous year. After excluding the effect of the remaining manufacturing activities disposed of in February 2001, the increase in the group's sales is over 15%. No further acquisitions have been completed since the statement on 13 December. Good cash flow generation for the month of December has resulted in a further reduction in net borrowings. At 31 December 2001, net borrowings were £625 million, giving gearing of approximately 40%. The group's interim results for the six months ending 31 January 2002 will be announced on Tuesday 19 March 2002. -END- ENQUIRIES: Wolseley plc Brunswick Group Ltd Tel: 01905 777200 Tel: 020 7404 5959 Steve Webster - Group Finance Director Andrew Fenwick Jacqueline Sinclair-Brown - Director of Corporate Sophie Fitton Communications (mob: 07889 433872) Steve Webster, the Group Finance Director, will host a brief conference call for analysts at 0930 hrs (GMT): Dial in: +44 (0) 20 8240 8242 Password: Wolseley NB: By dialing this number, you will be requesting participation in any discussions of the matters referred to in the analysts' presentation and of any other matters raised at the presentation (including matters raised in questions or referred to in the answers to questions). There will be playback available after 11.00 hrs (GMT) for 48hrs: Dial in: +44 (0) 20 8288 4459 Pin No: 645 352 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

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