AGM Statement

Cookson Group PLC
14 May 2004

14 May 2004


COOKSON GROUP PLC - EXTRACT FROM CHIEF EXECUTIVE'S AGM ADDRESS


The following extract is taken from Group Chief Executive Stephen Howard's
address to Cookson's Annual General Meeting which was held today.


'On 28 April we provided an update on trading. The news in that update was
encouraging, with positive progress made in the first quarter across the
Company. The highlight of the quarter was the continuation of the robust
recovery of our Electronics business. The Ceramics and Precious Metals divisions
also achieved higher first quarter sales and profits compared to a year ago. As
a result of the strong operational improvement, the eradication of the losses
incurred by Speedline, which was sold last year, and lower interest charges on
reduced borrowings, we saw a very substantial improvement in profitability in
the first quarter, recording a pre-tax profit of £18 million for the Group
compared to a pre-tax loss of £1 million a year ago.

'Looking ahead to the second quarter of this year, in our 28 April statement we
said that the business continued to perform in line with management expectations
and that we had exited the first quarter with strong order books. Results for
the month of April have confirmed this trend and we anticipate that the
underlying trading conditions experienced in the first quarter should be
maintained in the second quarter.'



Note: slides and proxy votes from the AGM will be available on Cookson's website
www.cooksongroup.co.uk later today.


Shareholder/analyst enquiries:
Stephen Howard, Group Chief Executive                       020 7061 6500
Dennis Millard, Group Finance Director                      020 7061 6500
Lisa Williams, IR Manager                                   020 7061 6500

Media enquiries:
John Olsen, Hogarth Partnership                             020 7357 9477





Cookson Group plc

265 Strand

London WC2R 1DB

Tel: [phone]

Fax: [phone]

Web: www.cooksongroup.co.uk





About Cookson Group

Cookson Group is a leading materials technology company which provides
materials, processes and services to customers worldwide. The Group's operations
are formed into three divisions - Electronics, Ceramics and Precious Metals. The
Electronics division is a leading manufacturer and supplier of materials and
services to the electronics industry, primarily serving fabricators and
assemblers of printed circuit boards, assemblers of semiconductor packaging and
the electrical and industrial markets. The Ceramics division is the world leader
in the supply of advanced flow control and refractory products and systems to
the iron and steel industry and is also a leading supplier of refractory lining
materials for iron and steelmaking and other industrial processes. The Precious
Metals division is a leading supplier to the jewellery industry of fabricated
precious metals products.

Headquartered in London, Cookson employs over 15,600 people in more than 35
countries and sells its products in over 100 countries.




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