AGM Statement

IMI PLC
17 May 2002

17 May 2002


                                    IMI plc
                             ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

IMI plc, the major international engineering Group, is holding its 2002 Annual
General Meeting at 12 noon today. At the meeting Gary Allen, Chairman, will be
commenting:


'Our results for 2001 reflected operationally the demanding market conditions
and strategically our determination to restructure and reposition IMI.


In our major markets, the US downturn was evident throughout the year and Europe
declined markedly in the second half. All our businesses were managed robustly
with strong emphasis on delivering cash. Despite lower underlying volumes and
reduced profit we produced operating cash flow of £182m (before rationalisation
and restructuring costs) an increase of £22m over the previous year.


As a result of the strategy review, we embarked on a major restructuring of the
Group, requiring changes of both the portfolio and the operations of the
retained businesses.


The portfolio restructuring made steady progress with £45m spent on acquisitions
and £53m realised from disposals. Those businesses currently within Building
Products which have been earmarked for future disposal, produced good profit and
cash in 2001. So far this year, these businesses overall have continued to
perform well, particularly Polypipe.


Changes to our operations are being made through an £80m programme of
rationalisation and restructuring with the focus on reducing our operational
cost base and improving our market-facing infrastructure. We had committed £45m
to these measures by the end of 2001, and expect the balance of £35m to be
substantially concluded by the end of this year. The benefits arising from these
initiatives to date are in line with our expectations. Half of the savings
arising from this restructuring will be reinvested to stimulate future growth.


The interim dividend paid in October 2001 was maintained at 6.0p and the Board
is recommending the payment of an unchanged final dividend of 9.5p, making a
total of 15.5p for the year.


In the current year to date, trading has generally been much as anticipated.
Volumes have started to recover from the lows of the fourth quarter of last year
and there is more quotation and enquiry activity. It is too early to judge the
extent to which this will impact on volume improvements later in the year. We
reported in March that cost savings arising from the restructuring were coming
through strongly and I am pleased to report that this trend is continuing.


It is our intention to issue a trading update on June 20 in which we will
comment in more detail on current trading.'

                                    - ENDS -

For further information please contact:

IMI plc
Graham Truscott, Corporate Communications                      0121 356 4848

Weber Shandwick Square Mile
Ben Padovan                                                    020 7950 2800



                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange