Trading Statement

Cookson Group PLC 24 May 2007 AGM TRADING STATEMENT Cookson Group plc, a leading materials science company, releases the following statement regarding current trading ahead of today's Annual General Meeting. Ceramics Global steel production - the key end-market for our Ceramics division - has been growing faster in 2007 than our earlier expectations. The investment and restructuring initiatives announced in 2006, which include additional production facilities in China, Poland and Mexico and the closure of facilities in the UK and the US, are proceeding in line with expectations although, as anticipated, the full benefits arising from a number of these initiatives will not be realised until 2008. Overall, underlying trading for the Ceramics division year to date has been encouraging and significantly ahead of the prior year. Electronics End-market growth in our electronics markets in the year to date is in line with our earlier expectations, with growth in 2007 marginally lower than that in 2006 but still ahead of global GDP. The market penetration of lead-free solder has remained constant compared to the end of 2006, where we had expected a continuing (albeit slowing) increase in penetration levels. We believe this is due to recent significant increases in the price of tin and silver, which are passed through to our customers and result in lead-free solder being much more expensive than traditional, leaded solder. This has also boosted demand for our less expensive, SACX(TM), low silver, lead-free products. Overall, underlying profitability for the Electronics division in the year to date has been in line with expectations and ahead of the prior year. Precious Metals In the US, retail demand for jewellery has been somewhat subdued in the year to date. In Europe, retail demand for jewellery remains weak but in line with our earlier expectations. As a consequence of the weaker US market, profitability for the division in the year to date has been slightly weaker than the equivalent period in the prior year (on a constant currency basis) but with all operations trading profitably. Currency In our preliminary results announcement, we highlighted that the recent weakening of the US dollar, through its translation impact on our sterling results, would reduce our reported growth if it were to continue. Since that announcement, the US dollar has continued to weaken such that the average US dollar exchange rate for the first four months of 2007 was US$1.96. The equivalent average US dollar exchange rate for the first half of 2006 and full year 2006 was US$1.79 and US$1.84 respectively. Approximately 80% of the Group's profit after tax arises in either the US dollar or other currencies which 'track' the US dollar, reflecting in particular the Group's well established presence in the fastest-growing and most profitable markets of Asia-Pacific. Outlook Based on general market conditions and our trading results for the first four months of the current year, we continue to expect a significant improvement in the performance of our continuing operations overall in 2007 on a constant currency basis. However, the recent weakening of the US dollar, through its translation impact on our sterling results, will reduce the rate of revenue and earnings growth on an as-reported basis. Further announcements A pre-close period trading statement will be issued at the end of June, with Interim results for the six months ending 30 June 2007 expected to be announced on 2 August 2007. For further information please contact: Shareholder/analyst enquiries: Nick Salmon, Chief Executive Cookson Group plc Mike Butterworth, Group Finance Director Tel: +44 (0)20 7822 0000 Anna Hartropp, Investor Relations Manager Media enquiries: John Olsen Hogarth Partnership Tel: +44 (0)20 7357 9477 About Cookson Group plc Cookson Group plc is a leading materials science company operating on a worldwide basis in Ceramics, Electronics and Precious Metals markets. The Ceramics division is the world leader in the supply of advanced flow control refractory products and systems to the global steel industry and a leading supplier of specialist ceramic products to the glass and foundry industries. It is also the regional leader in the US, UK and Australia in the supply and installation of monolithic refractory linings. The Electronics division is a leading supplier of advanced surface treatment and plating chemicals and assembly materials to the automotive, construction and electronics markets. The Precious Metals division is the leading supplier of fabricated precious metals (gold, silver, platinum, etc.) to the jewellery industry in the US, the UK, France and Spain. Products include alloy materials, semi-finished jewellery components and finished jewellery. Forward Looking Statements This announcement contains certain forward-looking statements which may include reference to one or more of the following: the Group's financial condition, results of operations, cash flows, dividends, financing plans, business strategies, operating efficiencies or synergies, budgets, capital and other expenditures, competitive positions, growth opportunities for existing products, plans and objectives of management and other matters. Statements in this document that are not historical facts are hereby identified as 'forward-looking statements'. Such forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, those relating to the future business prospects, revenues, working capital, liquidity, capital needs, interest costs and income, in each case relating to Cookson, wherever they occur in this document, are necessarily based on assumptions reflecting the views of Cookson and involve a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements should, therefore, be considered in light of various important factors. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from estimates or projections contained in the forward-looking statements include without limitation: economic and business cycles; the terms and conditions of Cookson's financing arrangements; foreign currency rate fluctuations; competition in Cookson's principal markets; acquisitions or disposals of businesses or assets; and trends in Cookson's principal industries. The foregoing list of important factors is not exhaustive. When relying on forward-looking statements, careful consideration should be given to the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and events, as well as factors described in documents the Company files with the UK regulator from time to time including its annual reports and accounts. Such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made. Except as required by the Rules of the UK Listing Authority and the London Stock Exchange and applicable law, Cookson undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking events discussed in this announcement might not occur. Cookson Group plc, 165 Fleet Street, London EC4A 2AE Registered in England and Wales No. 251977 www.cooksongroup.co.uk This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

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