Vesuvius Regulatory News (VSVS)

29 November 2012

Appointment of a Non-executive Director of Vesuvius plc

Cookson Group plc ("Cookson") announced on 1 November 2012 that it proposed to demerge its Performance Materials division, such that Cookson would then consist principally of the Engineered Ceramics division, to be renamed Vesuvius plc ("Vesuvius"). These proposals were approved by the Court and Cookson shareholders on 26 November 2012 and the demerger continues to be expected to become effective on 19 December 2012.

Cookson announces today that Jane Hinkley is to join the Board of Vesuvius plc as a non-executive Director with effect from 3 December 2012. It is anticipated that Ms Hinkley will take over from John Sussens as Chairman of the Remuneration Committee when Mr Sussens retires from the Board immediately following the 2013 annual general meeting.

Ms Hinkley is currently a non-executive Director and Chairman of the Remuneration Committee of Premier Oil plc. She also serves as a non-executive director of Teekay GP L.L.C.. This is the general partner of Teekay LNG Partners L.P. the international provider of marine transportation services for Liquefied Natural Gas ("LNG"), LPG and crude oil, which is a NYSE listed partnership. She previously held the position of non-executive director of Revus Energy ASA, a Norwegian exploration and production company.

Ms Hinkley spent a large part of her career working at Gotaas-Larsen Shipping Corporation, the LNG shipping specialist which was listed on both the London Stock Exchange and NASDAQ. She served as CFO from 1988-1992, and as Managing Director until 1997. In 1998 Ms Hinkley was appointed Managing Director of Navion Shipping AS, a company majority owned by Statoil, the Oil and Gas company, a position she held until 2001. Ms Hinkley is a qualified chartered accountant.

John McDonough, Chairman designate of Vesuvius, said:

"I look forward to welcoming Jane, with her wealth of international business experience as both a senior executive and also a non-executive director, to the Vesuvius Board."

No other disclosure obligations arise under paragraphs (1) to (6) of LR 9.6.13 R of the UK Listing Authority's Listing Rules in respect of this appointment.

Ends

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About Vesuvius plc:

Vesuvius will comprise the former Engineered Ceramics and Precious Metals Processing divisions of Cookson.

The Engineered Ceramics division is a global leader in metal flow engineering, developing, manufacturing and marketing mission critical advanced ceramic consumable products and systems to demanding applications, primarily in the global steel and foundry industries and in industries that require refractory materials for high temperature, abrasion resistant and corrosion resistant applications such as the aluminium, cement, glass and solar industries. The Precious Metals Processing division supplies fabricated precious metals (primarily gold, silver, platinum and palladium) to the jewellery industry in Europe and has significant precious metals recycling operations.

Vesuvius will be organised into three business segments:

• Steel, comprising the Engineered Ceramics division's Steel Flow Control and Advanced Refractories

businesses;

• Foundry, comprising the Engineered Ceramics division's Foundry Technologies and Fused Silica

businesses; and

• Precious Metals Processing.

Vesuvius had revenue of £2,012 million and a trading profit of £190.6 million in the year ended 31 December 2011. As at 30 June 2012, Vesuvius had approximately 12,100 employees.

Vesuvius' Board will comprise:

John McDonough CBE Chairman

François Wanecq Chief Executive

Chris O'Shea Finance Director

Christer Gardell Non-Executive Director

Jeff Hewitt Non-Executive Director

Jane Hinkley Non-Executive Director

Jan Oosterveld Non-Executive Director*

John Sussens Non-Executive Director*

*John Sussens will retire as a Vesuvius Director immediately following Vesuvius' 2013 annual general meeting. Jan Oosterveld also intends to retire as a Vesuvius Director immediately following Vesuvius' 2013 annual general meeting, subject to the appointment of his successor.