AGM Statement

RNS Number:8308K
Heywood Williams Group PLC
08 May 2003



Date:     8 May 2003


                           HEYWOOD WILLIAMS GROUP PLC
                                 AGM STATEMENT


Heywood Williams will be holding its Annual General Meeting later today.  At the
meeting, Ian Stuart, Chief Executive, will review the year and make the
following comments concerning current trading:

"As commented on at our preliminary results in March, our markets have been
impacted in the year to date by weak global economic conditions.

"In these circumstances, weak demand was experienced across all our US
businesses, with the exception of Pipe, where resin prices rose to reflect
higher oil related feedstock costs and stimulated customers to hold higher
stocks.  The outlook in all cases remains volatile for the foreseeable future.

"In the UK, market uncertainties were reflected in price and margin erosion.
Our restructuring strategy continues to be implemented to mitigate this effect.
In this respect, our previously reported warehousing difficulties have been
resolved and our factory moves completed so that benefits can be extracted
progressively through the year.  Similarly, we have made progress in reducing
our losses in Coldseal and continue to work on revising our business model by
mid year.

"We remain committed to the internal improvements scheduled for the rest of the
year.  We also anticipate a recovery in trading conditions in the second half,
but if these do not materialise, it is likely that the disappointing performance
to date will impact the full year results."


Contacts:

Ian Stuart, Chief Executive                               01484 487200
Laurence Campbell, Finance Director                       01484 487200
Heywood Williams Group PLC


Jon Simmons /  Meg Baker                                  020 7831 3113
Financial Dynamics




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