Chairman's AGM Statement

Latham(James) PLC
11 August 2000


                            - JAMES LATHAM PLC -                              
                
              CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT TO THE AGM ON 11 AUGUST 2000               
            
At a board meeting this morning the Directors have considered the first
quarter's trading to the end of June and also our July sales figures.

As indicated in the annual report, we have made a good start to the year with
turnover from our ongoing businesses 9.2% ahead of last year.  We are well
positioned to take advantage of the general uplift in activity and this is the
first time for some years that sales have shown such positive growth.

At Lathams Limited, our importing and distribution business, we are succeeding
in selling higher volumes and the value of our products is no longer falling
and, in some cases, has increased.  Although the market at Nevill Long remains
very competitive they have made a good start to the year.  Gross margins in
both businesses are better.

Overall, we expect a satisfactory result for the half year to the end of
September.


David Latham
Chairman