Disposal

Cookson Group PLC
05 November 2003


5 November 2003


COOKSON GROUP COMPLETES SALE OF SPEEDLINE


Cookson Group plc, the international materials technology company, announces
that it has completed the sale of its electronics equipment business, Speedline,
to KPS Special Situations Fund  II, L.P. for a total consideration of
approximately US$10 million (£6 million).  The decision to exit the business was
set out in Cookson's Interim Results announcement on 29 July 2003.


Speedline is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of equipment mainly
for the surface mount technology segment of the printed circuit board assembly
market and for the semiconductor packaging industry.  Speedline has two
manufacturing facilities in the USA, as well as representative offices in Europe
and Asia-Pacific.


For the nine months ended 30 September 2003, Speedline generated sales of £45.6
million (2002: full year - £66.9 million) and an operating loss of £14.1 million
(2002: full year - £25.3 million loss).  Net tangible assets employed at 30
September 2003 were approximately £16 million, excluding goodwill of £14.5
million.  In addition,  £101.2 million of goodwill, which was previously written
off in reserves and impaired in 2002, will be written back through the profit
and loss account.


The consideration for Speedline consists of cash payable at, and soon after,
closing plus a vendor note.  There is also potential, in the future, for Cookson
to receive further cash consideration in certain circumstances.


Commenting on the disposal, Stephen Howard, Group Chief Executive of Cookson,
said:


'The sale of Speedline is an important step towards setting the Group's
Electronics division on the road to profitable recovery.  As well as swiftly
eliminating losses being incurred by this business, this timely sale will allow
management to focus on generating sales growth in our electronics materials
businesses as its markets recover.  We will continue to work closely with
Speedline - as well as with other equipment manufacturers - to ensure customers
receive the best possible products, technology and service offerings.'


Cookson intends to make its regular third quarter trading update on Friday 7
November.


Shareholder/analyst enquiries:

Stephen Howard, Group Chief Executive                              020 7061 6500

Dennis Millard, Group Finance Director                             020 7061 6500

Lisa Williams, IR Manager                                          020 7061 6500

Media enquiries:

John Olsen, Hogarth Partnership                                    020 7357 9477


Cookson Group plc, 265 Strand, London WC2R 1DB

Tel: [phone]   Fax: [phone]

www.cooksongroup.co.uk


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