Tomkins PLC's Chairman Addresses AGM

    LONDON--Sept. 7, 2001--At today's Annual General Meeting of Tomkins PLC , the Chairman, David Newlands, made the following statement:
    "As anticipated, during the first four months of the current financial year all of our markets have remained challenging, particularly in the United States. Year to date, sales and profits are in line with the internal budgets for the group as a whole and trading continues to be in line with expectations for the year.
    Currently there are no real signs that there will be an improvement in our markets for the balance of the financial year. We continue to take appropriate actions to mitigate the effects of weak trading conditions to ensure our businesses are well positioned for recovery in their markets".
    Tomkins is a global engineering group of businesses with market and technical leadership positions, manufacturing value added systems and components for the automotive, industrial and construction industries.
    Tomkins shares trade in the US in ADR form (each equal to four ordinary shares) on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol TKS; its ordinary shares are listed on the London Stock Exchange.