Full Year Results 2007 - Key Points:

• Group revenue from continuing activities of £544.9 million (2006: £539.4 million).
• Operating profit from continuing activities improved to £37.7 million (2006: £36.5 million before exceptional gain).
• Earnings per share from continuing operations increased by 10 per cent to 15.5p (2006: 14.1p before exceptional gain).
• Pension fund deficit reduced to £17.4 million (2006: £72.6 million).
• The Board is recommending a maintained final dividend of 6.36p per share bringing the total for the year to 10.05p (2006: 10.05p).
• Successful exit from low margin, commodity cables operation.
• Employees in low cost manufacturing operations increased to 42 per cent of workforce (2006: 39 per cent).
• Strong cash generation and a robust balance sheet with 41 per cent gearing (2006: 45 per cent) provides a good platform for the future.

Note⁽¹⁾ The above are reported before the exceptional gain in 2006.
There were no exceptional items in 2007.