James Halstead Regulatory News (JHD)

6 December 2013

JAMES HALSTEAD PLC

Chairman's Statement to the Annual General Meeting

James Halstead plc, the commercial flooring company, will hold its AGM today at 12.00 noon at which the Chairman, Mr Geoffrey Halstead, will make the following statement: As is customary, I would like to give you an update on trading now that we are five months into the current financial year.

In my report on the results for the year ended 30 June 2013 I noted that the seeds of recovery were patchy but apparent and I am pleased to be able to report growth in turnover both in the UK and in our overseas markets, albeit modest. Central Europe and in particular France are continuing to grow with Australia and New Zealand on a par with last year.

Raw material supply and input prices are steady with overheads under close scrutiny, as they should be, in these challenging times.

December is always an unpredictable month but as we stand today I believe our first half results will be in line with management expectations.

Our cash balances continue to be solid underpinning the 6p dividend paid today which is an increase of 9.1% on that of last year.

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