Trading Statement

Senior PLC 19 December 2005 Senior plc Pre Close Period Statement Senior plc, a manufacturer of high technology components and systems, principally for the Aerospace and Automotive markets, issues this trading update for the twelve month period to 31 December 2005. Overall, trading remains in line with that anticipated at the time of the interim statement on 3 August 2005. Consequently, the Group's adjusted profit before tax(1) for the full year is expected to be ahead of that reported for 2004. Year-end net debt will, as anticipated, be slightly higher than the £59.1m reported at June 2005, primarily due to the continued high levels of capital expenditure in the Automotive Division. Aerospace Divisional sales have improved during the period as the overall civil aircraft market continues to recover and the military and defence sector remains at a healthy level. Within the civil market, business jets enjoyed strong growth but regional jet build rates continued to weaken. Deliveries of large civil aircraft, built by Boeing and Airbus, increased in the period and, with 1,514 aircraft ordered in the first eleven months of the year compared to the 605 delivered, their order books remain strong. Consequently, the aerospace market continues to present solid opportunities for growth as build rates increase and manufacturers seek to outsource production of some products to make way for the newer and larger aircraft. In the Automotive Division, sales have been slightly better than expected, despite overall vehicle sales in both the European and US markets remaining weak. This improved position is mainly due to a combination of new programme start-ups at a number of operations, diesel engines continuing their market share increase in Europe and a favourable product mix in the USA, where a higher proportion of front wheel drive cars were built and sold. Investment in plant and equipment required to manufacture new products for the North American heavy truck diesel engine market, as it converts to common rail technology to meet the new emission laws in early 2007, continues according to plan. In addition, new opportunities in the diesel market have necessitated the recruitment of additional engineering resources. In the Industrial Division, improved demand from the energy sector and healthy export markets have led to greatly improved performances at Pathway and Canada. At Hargreaves, its contract on the new Wembley stadium has proved to be difficult but is now close to completion. Overall, the Division is expected to deliver a strong profit improvement over 2004 and future prospects remain encouraging. The 2005 full year results will be announced on 2 March 2006. (1) adjusted profit is that before goodwill impairment, profit / loss on sale of operations and fixed assets For further information please contact: Senior plc Graham Menzies, Group Chief Executive 01923 714702 Mark Rollins, Group Finance Director 01923 714738 Finsbury Group Adrian Howard 020 7251 3801 This announcement, together with other information on Senior plc may be found at: www.seniorplc.com Note to Editors: Senior is an international manufacturing group with operations in 11 countries. Senior designs, manufactures and markets high technology components and systems for the principal original equipment producers in the worldwide aerospace, automotive and specialised industrial markets This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

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