Chairman's Statement

Severfield-Rowen PLC
30 May 2000


                             SEVERFIELD-ROWEN  PLC
                                 AGM STATEMENT



Peter Levine, the Chairman, speaking at the Annual General Meeting held today,
made the following comments:

The Management Accounts for the first 4 months of 2000 indicate that we are in
line  with budget and relative to the current market conditions prevailing  in
the UK structural steelwork industry remain on course for a good year.

It  is  increasingly  apparent that our reputation,  production  efficiencies,
quality  of  service and financial strength have combined to ensure  that  not
only has our leading market position been maintained but it has been enhanced.

The industry remains extremely competitive with margins continuing to be under
pressure.   However  our forward order book is currently at  £65  million  and
enquiries for significant projects for which our group is particularly  suited
are  encouraging.  For  example we have recently been awarded  a  6,000  tonne
project for a Card Processing Centre at East India Docks in London.

The building of the No 5 production line at Dalton is now complete with full
production having commenced last week.

We  remain  committed to developing the business by way of  acquisitional  and
organic  growth  and despite the current challenging market  conditions,  your
Board is most optimistic as to the Group's prospects for the future.


Peter Levine
Chairman

For further information, please contact:

Peter Levine, Chairman
Severfield-Rowen                   01132 469993

Richard Mountain
Financial Dynamics                 020 7831 3113