Change of Name

Spectris PLC
9 May 2001


Press release


9th May 2001


Fairey Group becomes Spectris

Fairey Group plc, the international instrumentation and electronic controls
company, today changed its name to Spectris plc.

Following shareholder approval at the AGM held in London yesterday, the
company has changed its name and is now listed on the London Stock Exchange as
Spectris plc (trading symbol: SXS).

The change of name to Spectris reflects the transformation of Fairey into a
specialist technology-based instrumentation and electronic controls company
which has 90% of its business outside the UK.


Hans Nilsson, Chief Executive of Spectris, comments: 'Today, the company's
focus is on providing innovative technology to improve product and process
performance for our customers worldwide. We have changed extensively since the
days when we were associated with UK aviation and engineering. The new name
and identity more appropriately reflects the reshaped group.'

                                    -ends-



The company's new internet address is www.spectris.com



Note to editors.



Background



Spectris develops and markets specialist technology-based instrumentation and
electronic controls. With annualised sales of approximately £550m, Spectris
employs 5,500 people worldwide in its 16 primary business units. The company
is listed on the London Stock Exchange (symbol: SXS) and is a founder member
of techMARK, the London Stock Exchange's index for technology companies.



Spectris was the parent company name of the four instrumentation and controls
businesses acquired by Fairey for £171m in July 2000. This was the largest
acquisition ever made by Fairey and marked an important strategic addition to
the company's instrumentation and controls business. The change in name from
Fairey Group to Spectris marks the reshaping of the group into an
international provider of specialist instrumentation and controls.



Products



Spectris products help customers to improve product quality and performance,
increase productivity and yield and reduce downtime and waste. The group's
instrumentation and electronic controls businesses are all leaders in their
specialised markets and can be found in most industries, with applications
ranging from ultraviolet curing of printed CD coatings to sound level
measurement and measuring of fibreoptic cable.



Board changes



Three Board changes have also been effected following the AGM. Sir Robin
Biggam steps down as Chairman and is replaced by John Poulter, formerly Chief
Executive. Hans Nilsson, formerly Chief Operating Officer, becomes Chief
Executive. Consequently, the Board members are:


John Poulter                 Chairman (non-executive)
Hans Nilsson                 Chief Executive
Paul Boughton                Business Development Director
Jim Webster                  Business Group Director
Graham Zacharias             Finance Director
Martin Lamb                  Non-executive Director
Dr Peter Watson              Non-executive Director
Ron Williams                 Non-executive Director




Contact:      Hans Nilsson
              Spectris                          Tel [phone]

              Richard Mountain
              Financial Dynamics                Tel [phone]