James Halstead Regulatory News (JHD)

1 Dec 2006 07:01

James Halstead PLC01 December 2006 1 December 2006 JAMES HALSTEAD PLC CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT TO THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING The Chairman, Mr Geoffrey Halstead will make the following statement toshareholders at the Company's Annual General Meeting on 1 December 2006: "I, and the Board are always cautious in looking forward but, as is usual at theAGM, I would like to give shareholders an update on current trading. As we stand today, five months into the financial year, I can say withconfidence that progress continues to be made. In recent weeks we have obtainedplanning permission for an extension to one of our main production lines andequipment has been ordered for a major upgrade to the plant. We continue to win specifications for significant flooring projects and, inaddition, our day to day distribution business continues to be robust. I haveoften made note of prestigious flooring installations but I feel that ourmotorcycle accessories business merits mention. We have distributed Arai crashhelmets in the UK for 28 years and no doubt everyone is aware of the very highspeed crash that the television presenter Richard Hammond was involved in a fewweeks ago. Richard Hammond was wearing a standard production Arai helmet andthis was one of the few, if not the only standard production helmet in theworld, that was capable of saving his life. The Group is well on track for another good year and will not disappoint marketexpectations. Last year, at the AGM, I announced a special dividend to be paid of 25p pershare and today I have pleasure in announcing that we will be paying anotherspecial dividend of 30 pence per ordinary 5p share payable on 2 February 2007." -ends- Enquiries:James Halstead plcGordon Oliver, Finance Director Tel: 0161 767 2500 Hudson SandlerNick Lyon Tel: 020 7796 4133 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange