AGM Statement

James Halstead PLC
05 December 2003


                               JAMES HALSTEAD plc


               CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT TO THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING


                               5TH DECEMBER 2003



The Chairman, Mr Geoffrey Halstead will make the following statement to
shareholders at the Company's Annual General Meeting on 5th December 2003:


'I would like to update you on the Group's position in the current financial
year.


As always, I qualify my comments by stating that these comments do not
constitute a forecast.


In my statement to the London Stock Exchange on 30th September I stated that I
was cautiously optimistic about the year ahead.


We are now five months into the year and I feel I can dispense with the word
'cautiously'.


Profitability in our flooring business is comfortably ahead of last year, and
all our companies are trading ahead of last year.


Whilst market conditions remain testing, I am confident that we will achieve
another year of progress for the Group.'



Enquiries:


James Halstead plc

Jack Whittaker

Tel: [phone]


Brown, Shipley & Co. Limited

Philip Johnson

Tel: [phone]







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