AGM Statement

Surface Transforms PLC 20 October 2004 RNS Release 20 October 2004 Surface Transforms plc Chairman's additional comments at Annual General Meeting I thought shareholders would find it informative if I provided an update on developments since the publication of our annual results in August. As I wrote in my annual report statement, progress towards our goal, which is the profitable commercial exploitation of our carbon fibre reinforced ceramic (CFRC) materials, has been boosted by the successful raising of £2.7 million net of expenses in new funds earlier in the year. These funds have allowed us to strengthen the management team and our technical capabilities. Since Dr. Kevin Johnson joined us as Operations Director, progress has already been made in expanding the technical and business development teams at our operations located at the Cheshire Innovation Park in Ince. In December 2004, Antoni Sznerch BSc MBA will join as Business Development Director. He will focus on increasing our presence in the high-performance road car market. With 20 years' experience selling high-technology, light-weight composite materials to the European motor industry Mr. Sznerch is well known to many of the companies operating in our target markets. We anticipate that this focus will help us move towards achieving our goal to become the industry-leading supplier of carbon ceramic brake pads and discs. During the remainder of the 2004/5 financial year we plan to install a new generation carbon ceramic development plant at the Cheshire site. The process engineering and development are well underway although the installation and operational phases are still at an early stage. The new Surface Transforms' plant will be built using our proprietary technology which we expect will significantly reduce current production costs and the manufacturing time for carbon ceramic disc brakes. Once completed, our goal is to further advance our lead in the provision of world-class, carbon ceramic process technology for licensing and in-house use, serving both brake and non-friction customers. Looking ahead, we expect the current financial year's turnover to be a small improvement over 2003/4. However, investment in new processes, facilities and management will increase the Company's expenses and overheads in the current financial year, as we add value to the business. In our key markets of aircraft brakes, road cars and rocket motors, business and environmental drivers such as weight saving, improved brake friction efficiency and reduced wear continue to favour the use of carbon ceramic materials. In particular, road car brake developments with our German partner METEK are progressing well. METEK anticipates early system orders to be placed at the forthcoming Automotive Aftermarket Show in Essen, Germany, which we will be attending in late November in partnership with METEK. The other key aircraft brake and anti-ballistics partnership contracts are progressing and currently both are midway in a sustained period of material testing. Recent testing of our rocket motor materials has exceeded expectations and we are increasingly encouraged about success in this market. Surface Transforms is still a relatively small high-technology development business in the process of fully commercialising its technology. In this light your Board has confidence in the progress that is being made and the potential for the Company's products and technology. A transcript of the question and answer session at the AGM is available on www.armshare.com which can be reached via www.surface-transforms.com. Further details of the Company's business and financial performance, its share price history and the latest published commercial news can be found at the same location. Mr Kevin D'Silva Chairman of Surface Transforms plc 20 October 2004 Enquiries, please contact: Julio Faria Neil Boom Managing Director Managing Director Surface Transforms plc Gresham PR Ltd. 01928 735 498 020 7404 9000 Simon Clements John East & Partners Limited 020 7628 2200 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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