Johnson Matthey Regulatory News (JMAT)

26 Sep 2007 07:00

Johnson Matthey PLC26 September 2007 For Release at 7.00 am Wednesday 26th September 2007 Johnson Matthey Pre Close Trading Update for the Half Year The first half of Johnson Matthey's current financial year ends on 30thSeptember 2007 and its interim results for the half year will be announced on28th November 2007. Prior to entering its closed period the company is todayissuing the following update on current trading: "Trading in the first half of Johnson Matthey's financial year has been in linewith expectations. The encouraging start made in the first quarter hascontinued in the second. Our new Environmental Technologies Division hasachieved strong sales growth with Emission Control Technologies (ECT) wellahead. Sales of heavy duty diesel catalysts for new vehicles in both Europe andNorth America have increased substantially following the introduction of newemission standards last year. Process Technologies has also seen good demandwith continued growth in sales to China. Precious Metal Products Division has benefited from the favourable tradingconditions for platinum group metals and good demand for manufactured productsand refining services. Fine Chemicals & Catalysts Division has achieved goodsales growth with demand for both fine chemicals and catalysts ahead of lastyear. The segmental results for the first half of last year, restated for the newdivisions announced in June, are shown below." Comparative Information for Prior Year Restated for New Divisions Half year to 30th September 2006 Year to 31st March 2007 Sales to External Operating Sales to External Operating external sales profit external sales profit customers excluding customers excluding precious precious metals metals £ million £ million £ million £ million £ million £ million Environmental 858.1 392.1 57.7 1,864.3 896.2 120.1TechnologiesPrecious Metal Products 1,860.5 134.3 37.2 3,824.4 290.0 85.3Fine Chemicals & 203.4 127.1 30.1 463.0 268.0 64.2CatalystsCorporate - - (8.4) - - (17.2)Continuing Businesses 2,922.0 653.5 116.6 6,151.7 1,454.2 252.4 Enquiries: Ian Godwin Director, IR and Corporate Communications 020 7269 8410John Sheldrick Group Finance Director 020 7269 8408Howard Lee The HeadLand Consultancy 020 7367 5225Laura Hickman The HeadLand Consultancy 020 7367 5227 www.matthey.com This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange