Cookson Group's Directorate Change

2012-11-28

Nov. 27, 2012 - Cookson Group plc ("Cookson") announced on 1 November 2012 that the Performance Materials division is to be demerged to form a new London listed specialty chemicals company, Alent plc ("Alent").  These proposals were approved by the Court Meeting and the General Meeting of Cookson Shareholders on 26 November 2012 and the demerger is expected to become effective on 19 December 2012.
Cookson announces today that David Egan will become Finance Director of Alent with effect from 1 January 2013.
Mr Egan is currently the Chief Financial Officer at ESAB, which was the largest division of Charter International plc which was itself acquired by Colfax Corporation in 2012.
Prior to joining ESAB in 2008, Mr Egan was Group Financial Controller of Hanson plc based in London, and prior to that Chief Financial Officer, Hanson Asia Pacific based in Singapore. He has extensive international experience of businesses in Europe, including the Russian Federation, Asia, Australasia, and the Americas.
Mr Egan is a qualified Certified Practicing Accountant (CPA), Australia and is a dual British and Australian citizen.
Peter Hill, Chairman designate of Alent, said:
"I look forward to welcoming David, with his wealth of experience in senior and international finance roles, to Alent's board.  His appointment completes the line-up of what I believe will be a strong and experienced Board, with the depth and mix of skills to maximise the opportunities for Alent and its shareholders, as a stand-alone company."
As previously announced, Mike Butterworth, currently Group Finance Director of Cookson, will act as Interim Finance Director for Alent from listing until 1 January 2013.
No disclosure obligations arise under paragraphs (1) to (6) of LR 9.6.13 R of the UK Listing Authority's Listing Rules in respect of this appointment.