Weir Group Regulatory News (WEIR)

9 May 2007 07:02

Weir Group PLC09 May 2007 THE WEIR GROUP PLC Annual General Meeting - Q1 Trading Update Wednesday 9 May 2007 The following is the text of the statement to be delivered by the Chairman, Sir Robert Smith, at this year's AGM on Wednesday 9 May 2007 at 11am: Orders booked by our continuing operations in the first quarter of 2007 areahead of the same period in the prior year. In Engineering Products, first quarter sales increased year on year. This salesgrowth, together with the continued strength of core markets in all keyterritories, supports our confidence in further progress in 2007. The Services Division has traded in line with expectations during the firstquarter of the year. Previously announced actions to improve the Division'sperformance are delivering as planned. We continue to expect an improved 2007result. The Defence, Nuclear and Gas Division continued to perform well in the firstquarter, albeit below the same period in 2006 due to the favourable profittaking profile on last year's trade. A broadly equivalent level of performanceis expected in 2007 as a result of similar patterns of trade and a good level ofcontract backlog. Overall we have started the year well, even against the strong first quarter oflast year and we continue to view the outcome for the year as a whole withconfidence. Contact details:The Weir Group PLC 0141 637 7111Helen Walker, Public Relations Manager 0141 308 3739 (Mobile: 07789 032296) Maitland Tel. 020 7379 5151Suzanne Bartch (Mobile: 07769 710 335)Peter Ogden (Mobile : 07811 124 197) This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange