Credit Facility

Cookson Group PLC
24 December 2001







24 December 2001



COOKSON GROUP plc ARRANGES NEW £450 MILLION CREDIT FACILITY



Cookson Group plc, the international materials technology company, announces
that it has arranged a new £450 million multi-currency revolving credit
facility. This new syndicated facility, in which all of the Group's current
relationship banks have participated, has a final maturity date of September
2004 and replaces existing facilities of some £500 million, of which £240
million was due for repayment in 2002. The new facility is partially secured
on certain assets of some of the Group's subsidiaries.

Taking account of the new facility, together with Cookson's private placement
notes and convertible bonds, the Group will have total committed borrowing
facilities of £920 million with maturities ranging from 2003 to 2012.
Currently, the Group's net debt amounts to some £800 million, of which
approximately one third will consist of secured borrowings.

In the third quarter trading update on 5 October 2001, the Board announced
that it did not expect to recommend the payment of a final dividend for 2001.
The Board has now reviewed Cookson's near-term dividend policy in conjunction
with the finalisation of the new facility and, as a consequence, it is has
been agreed that no cash dividend will be paid in 2002 or until certain
financial targets have been achieved. This policy will be kept under review.

On 17 December 2001 Cookson announced that, taking into account trading during
the fourth quarter to date, results for 2001 are expected to be in line with
market estimates. A full update on trading will be provided on Tuesday 15
January 2002, followed by a conference call on that day.

Commenting on the new financing facility, Dennis Millard, Group Finance
Director, said:

'We are pleased to have put in place the appropriate level of committed
borrowing facilities to ensure the continued implementation of the Group's
strategies. Cookson enjoys strong and longstanding relationships with its core
banks as evidenced by the consistent support that they have given to the Group
over the years. Cookson is a strong company with industry leadership
positions, and products and services that address substantial global markets
that will endure and grow.'



Cookson Group plc

The Adelphi

1-11 John Adam Street

London WC2N 6HJ

Tel:     [phone]

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www.cooksongroup.co.uk