Trading update

RNS Number:8692Q
Chloride Group PLC
27 March 2008

                                                                   27 March 2008



                               CHLORIDE GROUP PLC


                                 Trading update

                         Retirement of Chief Executive





Prior to entering its close period before publication of the results for the
year ended 31 March 2008, the Board of Chloride Group PLC ("Chloride" or "the
Company") provides the following update:



As stated in the third quarter Interim Management Statement, the Company
continues to make excellent progress.  Sales for the year are expected to be in
the order of 30% ahead of last year, with organic sales growth well ahead of the
market.  A record order book for products and services of circa £100 million and
continuing momentum in key market sectors including IT services, data centres,
energy and oil and gas, support a positive outlook for the coming year.



The full year results will be ahead of management's expectations, with an
increase in operating profit (before amortisation) in the order of 50% over the
previous year.  The operating margin is expected to increase by a minimum of 1.5
points to approximately 13% due to strong operational gearing.



We have continued to invest in enhancing our capabilities and geographic reach:



*                    In Singapore, Chloride's new regional office for South East
Asia was opened in February 2008, following the acquisition of Ascor Power
Systems in May 2007.  This facility and the strengthened organisation greatly
enhance Chloride's ability to serve and support customers in the fast-growing
South East Asia region.



*                    Our facility in Shenzhen, China, jointly owned with
Phoenixtec Corporation, was opened in February and is building up production.
This venture gives us access to high-quality, low-cost manufacturing.



*                    In Russia a new Chloride business has been set up with our
partners in Moscow and will be the platform to develop Chloride's secure power
solutions in the growing Russian market.



Tax provisions of £3.0 million related to potential taxation risks on businesses
divested in 2001 are now no longer required and will be released in the
financial year ending 31 March 2008.



The Company will be announcing its preliminary results on 2 June 2008.





Commenting on the trading update, Chief Executive Keith Hodgkinson said:



"Global businesses now operate in an increasingly digitised environment,
generating increased demand for clean, reliable power.  Their requirement for
business continuity against a background of deteriorating power quality is
expected to continue to drive demand for Chloride's secure power solutions over
the foreseeable future.



Our key markets have strong underlying long-term growth characteristics which
reinforce confidence in our prospects.  I am very pleased to note that our
record order book for products and services, organic sales growth ahead of the
market, strong operational gearing and the benefits from recent acquisitions and
investments position us to maintain strong growth."



Retirement of Chief Executive



The Board of Chloride also announces the forthcoming retirement of Keith
Hodgkinson, who was appointed Chief Executive in 1992.  He will step down from
the Board at the Annual General Meeting in July 2008 and continue in an advisory
role until November 2008.  As envisaged in the succession planning process, he
will be succeeded at the AGM by Tim Cobbold who joined the Board as Chief
Operating Officer in June 2007.



Commenting, Chairman Norman Broadhurst said:



"As Chief Executive, Keith Hodgkinson has built Chloride into a focused,
market-leading secure power solutions business.  These are strong foundations
and we are confident in the prospects for continuing success under Tim Cobbold's
leadership."


Enquiries:                                             Telephone:


Chloride Group PLC                                     [phone]

       Keith Hodgkinson (Chief Executive)
       Neil Warner (Finance Director)
       Tim Cobbold (Chief Operating Officer)

Hudson Sandler                                         [phone]

       Andrew Hayes/Kate Hough



Note to editors:



Chloride Group PLC (LSE: CHLD.L) is a world leader and the UK's number one
specialist provider of critical power protection solutions and services.  Secure
power is essential to ensure business continuity, and protect customers' systems
and processes from the damaging effects of poor quality electrical power, which
is prevalent in most world economies, including the USA and Europe.



Chloride provides Total Solutions for customers' critical power protection
needs, designed and tailored to their applications.  Their offer covers a
combination of expert system advice, proprietary equipment (including
uninterruptible power supply systems and power conditioners), ancillary
equipment (including diesel generators and control systems) and comprehensive
service and maintenance packages.



Covering a broad range of markets, Chloride supplies leading companies, for
which business continuity is paramount.  Market sectors include financial
services, manufacturing, government, transport, healthcare, telecoms (protecting
data centres and telephone network infrastructure), energy, petrochemicals and
oil and gas (protecting equipment in refining plants, storage facilities,
offshore drilling rigs and transportation pipe lines).



Underpinning the Company's Total Solutions approach is a commitment to providing
customers with excellent after sales service and support through a network of
highly qualified engineers and technical support staff. This is backed up by
Chloride's industry-leading diagnostic system, LIFE.net.



Headquartered in London, UK, Chloride has offices worldwide, serving blue chip
customers across Europe, Asia, Australia, North and South America.



Chloride's strategy is to continue its focus as a pure power protection company,
and to develop its capability as a Total Solutions provider in critical power
protection services.



For further information please visit the Group's website at
www.chloridegroup.com






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            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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