Gooch & Housego Regulatory News (GHH)

Gooch & Housego PLC

(The "Company")

Half-Year Trading Update

Gooch & Housego PLC, the specialist manufacturer of optical components and systems, announces that trading for the half-year to 31 March 2010 was ahead of management expectations as a result of a continuing recovery in our core markets and growth in new business, particularly in the aerospace & defence sector.

Although the upturn has been uneven, our global presence and our strategy of diversification have enabled Gooch & Housego to benefit from those markets and sectors that are leading the economic recovery. Demand is currently at a level that it is putting some pressure on the manufacturing capacity at several of our operating locations and we have responded with a number of actions to ensure that we can continue to satisfy our customers' requirements at acceptable leadtimes. Orders on hand on 31 March were 27% higher than at the start of the year at £19.8 million, of which £14.0 million is scheduled for shipment by 30 September.

The challenges presented by rising demand combined with continuing economic uncertainties mean that we retain an element of caution despite this generally encouraging outlook.

Interim results are expected to be announced on 8 June.

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