Interim Management Statement

2 February 2010

Hampson Industries PLC

Interim Management Statement

Hampson Industries PLC ("Hampson" or "the Group"), the international aerospace and precision engineering group, today issues the following Interim Management Statement covering the period from 1 October 2009 to the current date.

Trading in the period has been satisfactory, with performance in each of the Group's divisions being influenced by the principal factors discussed in the Half Year Report. Net debt as at 31 December 2009 stood at £146.3 million.

Although the Group's results in the period remain below those achieved in the comparable period of the previous year, Hampson's principal business, aerospace tooling, has continued to see early signs of the anticipated recovery of market demand. The twelve month tooling order book at 31 December 2009 had increased by 13% since 31 March 2009 and by 25% since August 2009. In addition, at US$315 million, the level of business in the quotation pipeline remains very strong across a number of commercial, military and general aviation programmes.

Following a two and a half year delay, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner made its long awaited first flight on 15 December 2009. This marks a crucial programme milestone and its successful outcome is an important technical endorsement of the extensive use of composite materials in critical primary flight structures for large commercial aircraft. The Board anticipates that with this important programme now entering the more advanced phases of certification, further tooling will be required to support the necessary build-up to planned levels of production throughout the supply chain.

Texstars, Inc. and Composites Horizons, Inc., the Group's composite component businesses, have continued to trade in line with the Board's expectations in the period, with demand in the military aerospace sector remaining robust.

In the Aerospace Components & Structures division, action remains ongoing to restructure the Group's loss-making UK aerostructures business, which continues to impact results for this division. The destocking seen by certain customers in the shims businesses in the first half appears to have ended, with Lamsco in particular seeing an upturn in new orders in the period.

The Automotive Turbocharger division's order book has continued to strengthen in the period, in line with the gradual recovery in global automotive markets.

The Board has continued to support the Group's strong strategic positions with selective senior management hires in the United States and investment in the most appropriate information technology systems.

Although the initial signs of recovery in tooling demand are encouraging, the Board considers it appropriate to remain cautious on the short-term outlook, pending further clear evidence of this trend being sustained. In the meantime, the Board will continue to focus on reducing debt and taking actions to improve operational efficiency as key management priorities to strengthen the Group for the medium and longer terms. As the largest aerospace tooling business in the world, the Directors believe that the Group is well placed for the anticipated resumption of longer-term growth in its core markets.

The terms "Trading Results" or "Results" used in this IMS are before exceptional items relating to restructuring and rationalisation charges, impairment charges, changes in the net value of derivative financial instruments and the amortisation of intangible assets on acquisition.

Ends.

Further information:

Kim Ward, Chief Executive +44 (0)1384 472941

Howard Kimberley, Finance Director +44 (0)1384 472946

Marylene Guernier/Ed Orlebar, M:Communications +44 (0)20 7920 2369 / 2323

About Hampson:

The Group's operations are structured into three business segments, serving the global commercial and military aerospace and specialist engineering markets from manufacturing facilities in the UK, North America and India.

Approximately 95% of the Group's sales are derived from its aerospace activities, the balance from the market for automotive turbocharger components. Hampson are world leaders in the design and manufacture of close tolerance tooling and assembly systems for composite and metallic aerostructures. The Group employs over 1,500 people worldwide.

Hampson Industries PLC is listed on the main market of the London Stock Exchange (Symbol: HAMP). For more information on Hampson: www.hampsongroup.com 

Cautionary Statement:

This announcement contains forward-looking statements that are based on current expectations or beliefs, as well as assumptions about future events. These forward-looking statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate only to historical or current facts. Forward-looking statements often use words such as anticipate, target, expect, estimate, intend, plan, goal, believe, will, may, should, would, could, is confident, or other words of similar meaning. Undue reliance should not be placed on any such statements because they speak only as at the date of this announcement and, by their very nature, they are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties and can be affected by other factors that could cause actual results, and Hampson's plans and objectives, to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements.

There are a number of factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in forward-looking statements. Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements are: increased competition, the loss of or damage to one or more key customer relationships, changes to customer ordering patterns, delays in obtaining customer approvals for engineering or price level changes, the failure of one or more key suppliers, the outcome of business or industry restructuring, the outcome of any litigation, changes in economic conditions, currency fluctuations, changes in interest and tax rates, changes in raw material or energy market prices, changes in laws, regulations or regulatory policies, developments in legal or public policy doctrines, technological developments, the failure to retain key management, or the key timing and success of future acquisition opportunities or major investment projects.

Hampson undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statement contained within this announcement, regardless of whether those statements are affected as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, save as required by law and regulations.