Poly-Flex Business Sold

Cookson Group PLC
25 January 2000



          COOKSON SELLS POLY-FLEX BUSINESS
                          

Cookson  Group  plc  ('Cookson'), the  international
materials  technology group, announces that  it  has
reached  agreement to sell Poly-Flex  Circuits  Inc.
and  Poly-Flex Circuits Ltd. ('Poly-Flex') to Parlex
Corporation  (NASDAQ: PRLX) for a cash consideration
of  US$19 million (£11.5 million).  Poly-Flex  is  a
manufacturer  of polymer thick film  (PTF)  flexible
circuit     assemblies    for    telecommunications,
appliances and the electronics industry  in  the  UK
and   USA.   Completion  of   the   transaction   is
conditional  upon  receipt of  regulatory  approvals
which are expected to be received shortly.

In   addition,  Cookson  has  acquired  from  Parlex
certain  patents  related  to  the  manufacture   of
substrates  for  thin  core  laminates.   This  will
strengthen  Cookson's position as a leader  in  high
performance laminates for the fast growth micro  via
market.

Stephen  Howard,  Cookson's Group  Chief  Executive,
commented: 'Cookson Electronics plans to grow its PC
Fabrication  business  by broadening  the  range  of
laminate  and chemical products it supplies  to  the
printed  circuit  broad fabrication  industry.   The
products  that Poly-Flex offered did  not  fit  with
this  strategy  and  were directed  at  a  different
customer  base. The acquisition of the patents  from
Parlex  will  further  strengthen  our  ability   to
provide  high performance laminates for  the  strong
growth    telecommunications    and    semiconductor
packaging  industries by allowing  them  to  produce
smaller, faster and lighter devices.'

For further information, please contact:

Stephen Howard                Dennis Millard
Group Chief Executive         Group Finance Director
Cookson Group plc             Cookson Group plc
London WC2N 6HJ               London WC2N 6HJ
Tel: [phone]            Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]            Fax: [phone]