Disposal

Hays PLC
30 July 2001


HAYS DISPOSAL
OF NON-CORE
CHEMICAL ACTIVITIES


Hays plc has disposed of its non-core Chemical activities, comprising Hays
Chemicals Limited and its subsidiaries ('Hays Chemicals'), to Albion Chemicals
Limited ('Albion'), a Management Buy-In vehicle, for £107 million. This
strategic disposal will allow management to focus on Hays' core activities.

The management Buy-In team led by Peter Savage as Chairman has extensive
industry knowledge and a successful track record of creating value from
leveraged finance transactions.

£60 million of the sale price has been paid in cash at completion the balance
being an interest bearing Loan. The Loan will carry a coupon of 9% for the
first three years rising to 15% by year Five.  The proceeds of the sale have
been used to reduce Group borrowings. Hays has retained a 49% equity interest
in the purchase vehicle.

In the year to 30 June 2000, Hays Chemicals had an operating profit of £17.7
million on sales of £160 million, and at 30 June 2000 it had operating net
assets of £70 million. Unaudited management accounts for the year to 30 June
2001 indicated an operating profit of £14.1 million on sales of £160 million.

Hays Chemicals is a leading chemical distributor in the UK through its
national depot network, and also a leading UK manufacturer of chlor-alkali
products.  It provides a range of value-added services including third party
stock management, mixing, blending and chemical packaging.

Commenting on the transaction, Bob Lawson, Chairman of Hays plc, said:

' We are very pleased with the sale of this non-core business, which will
enable us to focus on the development of our Commercial, Personnel and
Logistics core activities.

We are confident that the current management team of Hays Chemicals,
strengthened by the management team in Albion, will drive the business
forward. Our retained financial investment in Albion will allow us to share in
the future growth of the business.'



For further information contact:

Bob Lawson Chairman 01483 302 203
Graham Williams Executive Director 01483 302 203
Jon Coles Brunswick 0207 404 5959
Corinne Daniels Brunswick 0207 404 5959


Note to Editors

The company has been owned by Hays since the early 1980's and has been grown
organically and by acquisition to become the market leader in Chemical
distribution and a leading manufacturer of chlor-alkali products.

Chemicals Activities has around 850 employees based at 16 depots throughout
the UK and production facilities at Sandbach, St Helens and Thetford.

Locations - 23

Peter Savage is Chairman and Non-Executive Director of a number of companies,
many within the chemicals industry. For a number of years he was an Executive
Director of Harrison and Crossfield, a listed chemicals company and prior to
that he was a Director of Exxon Chemicals.