AGM Statement

Yule Catto & Co PLC 17 May 2007 Yule Catto & Co plc AGM Statement Yule Catto is an international producer of speciality chemicals, supplied to global customers for use in a wide range of industries including pharmaceuticals, FMCG, paints and adhesives At today's Annual General Meeting of Yule Catto & Co plc to be held at 12 noon at Saddlers' Hall, 40 Gutter Lane, London EC2V 6BR, Anthony Richmond-Watson, Chairman, will make the following comments: Throughout 2006 we continued to implement our plans for the long-term development of the Group. Our water-based Polymer business delivered another solid performance with strong volume and profit growth. This performance confirms our strategy of geographical expansion around our existing business hubs in Europe, Asia, the Middle East and South Africa and focusing on market sectors where our product technology and manufacturing capabilities give us real competitive advantage. Our Pharmaceutical business continued to increase the range of generic and ethical products that it plans to manufacture and registered a further 7 drug master files in the year. Sales grew 9% on a year on year basis. The Performance Chemicals businesses had a difficult year. As previously announced, we implemented plans to restructure significantly these businesses to reduce costs and focus on market segments offering better margins and growth. Overall, underlying profit before taxation reduced to £31.5 million as a result of the difficulties in our Performance Chemicals businesses. I would like to thank all our employees everywhere for their commitment and their contribution towards the company's success. First Quarter Operating Performance 2007 has started positively, with our un-audited management accounts showing revenues and profits in-line with expectations. First quarter pre-tax profit in all three operating divisions is ahead of the prior year corresponding period. Within Polymer Chemicals we continue to see strong volume growth for both our Dispersion and Latex product ranges. In particular demand for our products from the synthetic glove market continues to grow at double-digit rates. New capacity targeted at supporting this market was commissioned successfully in late March and is now fully utilised. As previously announced we have sanctioned further capacity to be operable early in 2008. Our Pharma and Fine Chemical division has seen continued growth as an increasing range of pharmaceutical intermediates reach commercial production. Zolpidem has now come off patent and we are working with our customers to actively participate in this market. Within Performance Chemicals our previously announced re-structuring activities within William Blythe and James Robinson is now complete. Following the closure of two UK sites within these operating companies, we anticipate selling these vacated sites in the course of 2007. The current level of operating profit exceeds that in the corresponding period, on a reduced level of sales. Organisation Restructuring and Management Appointments Following an extensive review of our existing organisational structure and management capabilities, we are re-structuring the operations of the Group. We will manage our businesses and present our financial results against a revised divisional structure as follows: - • Polymer Chemicals This will remain unchanged from previous reporting content and as such will include the results of our Aqueous Polymer businesses based in Europe, Asia, the Middle East and South Africa. • Pharma Chemicals Previously we have reported the results of our Pharma and Fine Chemicals businesses on a combined basis. Going forward our Fine Chemicals businesses will be reported within a new division, Impact Chemicals. We believe our shareholders will welcome the increased clarity this new reporting will bring. Our Pharma business operates 4 plants in 3 countries - Spain (2), Mexico (1), Italy (1), and supplies active pharmaceutical intermediates to both generic and ethical drug formulators • Impact Chemicals This new division will be a consolidation of what has previously been reported under 'Fine Chemicals' and 'Performance Chemicals'. This division will comprise five operating companies - Holliday Pigments, William Blythe, James Robinson, Oxford Chemicals and PFW. These businesses each serve unique markets and have minimal operational synergies with other Group companies. In parallel with this organisational change we have re-structured the senior management teams who will run these three divisions. To run the newly formed Impact Chemicals division we are pleased to be able to announce the appointment of Derick Whyte. He will join the Group on 21 May 2007 and, with immediate effect, will become Divisional Chief Executive of Impact Chemicals. Derick is a chartered chemist with more than 20 years experience in the chemicals industry. Prior to joining the Company, Derick held a number of senior management roles with ICI, latterly as President of Acheson Industries. A priority for Derick will be to continue to improve performance and realise value from the portfolio of operating companies within Impact Chemicals. Mark Robbins will continue as Chief Executive of the Pharma Division. Alan Maddy will continue as Chief Executive of the Polymer Division until his retirement in August 2008. Andrew Lanham was promoted from within the Polymer Division to become Polymer European Managing Director effective 1st March 2007 reporting into Alan Maddy. All three divisional Chief Executives will be wholly responsible for their operating performance and will report directly to the Group Chief Executive, Adrian Whitfield. As part of the process of strengthening group functions to support the Company's business activities, we have also appointed Frank Siddle as Director of Group HR. Frank joined the Group on 22nd January 2007 and previously held senior personnel roles within Caterpillar and Volvo. I strongly believe this new organisation structure and associated management changes will better allow the Company to be managed in line with the issues and opportunities each division is facing and in so doing enhance the overall performance of the Group. The Group's interim results to be announced in September will be presented in accordance with these organisational changes. In order to provide a comparative baseline for the new divisions, the 2006 interims and full year results have been presented on this new basis and are appended to this statement as well as being available to view on the Company's website as of today's date. Board Changes As previously announced, Dr M J Peagram stood down as Deputy Chairman on 5th April 2007. Peter Welch is not standing for re-election and will cease to be a director from the close of this meeting. We thank them both for their considerable contribution over the past years. Searches for two new non-executive directors are well in hand and we anticipate being in a position to announce new appointees in the coming months. Dato Seri Lee Oi Hian, Dato Lee Hau Hian, Alex Catto and Peter Wood are all standing for re-election at today's meeting. Sean Cummins resigned from the Board as of the 22nd March 2007. A search for his replacement as Finance Director is underway. Andrew Burnett previously Group Financial Controller has been appointed Acting Finance Director. Pensions As we announced in March this year, the triennial valuation of our pension scheme is currently underway. In parallel with this valuation we have been consulting with our workforce on the future level of benefits to be provided and the associated contributions to be made by both employees and the Company. The Company and its Trustees plan to submit mutually agreed future funding proposals to the Pensions Regulator in early June. We expect this exercise to be concluded in 2007. Outlook We anticipate continued good sales growth in our Polymer Division where raw material prices remain volatile. Within Pharma Chemicals we will continue to focus on extending our product range of generic and ethical intermediates. The newly formed Impact Chemicals Division will focus on enhancing its overall profitability. The performance of the individual businesses within this division will continue to be reviewed closely and further restructuring of this division may be required to achieve our goal of realising satisfactory value for the Group. 17 May 2007 ENQUIRIES: YULE CATTO Tel: 01279 442791 Adrian Whitfield, Chief Executive COLLEGE HILL Tel: 020 7457 2020 Gareth David APPENDIX Reclassified Segmental Financial Analysis Segments as previously reported Underlying performance 6 months ended 30 June 2006 Year ended 30 December 2006 Group sales Operating Group sales Operating profit profit £000 £000 £000 £000 Polymer chemicals 199419 20300 399084 38749 Pharma & fine chemicals 45284 4936 88479 9455 Performance chemicals 37132 113 69794 (358) Unallocated corporate expenses (2896) (4887) 281,835 22,453 557,357 42,959 Restatement to new segments Underlying performance 6 months ended 30 June 2006 Year ended 30 December 2006 Group sales Operating Group sales Operating profit profit £000 £000 £000 £000 Polymer chemicals 199419 20300 399084 38749 Pharma chemicals 32487 3941 64404 8133 Impact chemicals 49929 1108 93869 964 Unallocated corporate expenses (2896) (4887) 281,835 22,453 557,357 42,959 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

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