Re: Chairman's Statement

Kingspan Group PLC 30 May 2003 Kingspan Group plc Chairman's Statement at Annual General Meeting Friday 30th May 2003 The Board is pleased to report that sales in the first four months of 2003 have been ahead of the corresponding period in 2002 in mixed market conditions. In Britain demand for insulated panels is showing growth overall, driven by a renewed increase in the conversion of the cladding market to insulated panels. Insulated panel sales are also showing growth in Ireland and Central Europe while more difficult market conditions pertain in our Western European markets. The need for additional capacity has been identified and a new insulated panel line will be commissioned by mid 2004. The Group is experiencing strong demand for its insulation boards in all of its markets, putting pressure on capacity in the short term. This, however, had been anticipated and substantive new capacity is currently being installed and will be commissioned in quarter 3 this year. The Environmental Containers business continues to put in a good performance in its main product sectors. Access floors remain weak in volume and margins in the Group's main UK and US markets, but should be in line with market expectations. There is also some pressure on operating margins, particularly in the area of structural products in the UK and insulated panels in Western Europe. The weakness of the dollar and pound sterling against the Group's reporting currency, the Euro will have some negative effect at the earnings level but the worst effects of this are offset through internal hedging. Overall, trading so far this year indicates a satisfactory outcome for 2003. This announcement has been issued through the Companies Announcement Service of The Irish Stock Exchange This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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