UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 6-K
REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER
PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16
UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the month of May, 2004
SPIRENT plc
_____________________________________________________________________
(Translation of registrant's name into English)
Spirent House, Crawley Business Quarter, Fleming Way, Crawley, West Sussex
RH10 9QL, UK.
_____________________________________________________________________
(Address of principal executive offices)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports
under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
Form 20-F X Form 40-F.....
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information
contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the
Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Yes ..... No X
If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant
in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82- ________
830 - 11 May 2004
SPIRENT PLC
CHAIRMAN'S 2004 AGM STATEMENT
At the Annual General Meeting of Spirent plc (LSE: SPT; NYSE: SPM), a leading
communications technology company, held today John Weston, Chairman, made the
following statement:
"Spirent's overall trading performance in the first quarter of 2004 was in line
with expectations after allowing for the impact of the continuing weakness of
the US dollar to sterling exchange rate. On an organic, constant currency basis
group turnover was up 9 per cent compared with the first quarter of last year.
"In the Communications group we have started to see some more encouraging trends
in spending by our customers. The Performance Analysis division has benefited
from our broad portfolio of products, particularly in next-generation broadband
and wireless technologies, with quarterly order intake up appreciably over the
same period last year. We have also seen some signs of a return of confidence
among network service providers but as previously stated we expect the Service
Assurance division's performance to lag a recovery. We continue to extend our
existing capabilities in IP services and expand our product offering
internationally.
"Our Network Products group delivered a good performance in the first quarter
benefiting from the introduction of new products and applications in its
principal markets. As anticipated our Systems group's exports in the first
quarter of 2004 have been impacted by the weakness of the US dollar.
"The satisfactory start to 2004 we reported in our 2003 preliminary results
announcement in February has continued into April. While we have seen
indications of a pick up in spending by our customers, we continue to be
cautious as to the extent of this recovery."
- ends -
Enquiries
Nicholas Brookes, Chief Executive Spirent plc +44 (0)1293 767676
Eric Hutchinson, Finance Director
Investor Relations
Catherine Nash Spirent plc +44 (0)1293 767676
Media
Jon Coles/Rupert Young Brunswick +44 (0)20 7404 5959
About Spirent
Spirent is a leading communications technology company focused on delivering
innovative systems and services to meet the needs of customers worldwide. We
are a global provider of performance analysis and service assurance solutions
that enable the development and deployment of next-generation networking
technologies such as broadband services, Internet telephony, 3G wireless and web
applications and security testing. Our Network Products business is a developer
and manufacturer of innovative solutions for fastening, identification,
protection and connectivity in electrical and communications networks marketed
under the global brand HellermannTyton. The Systems group comprises PG Drives
Technology, which develops power control systems for specialist electrical
vehicles in the mobility and industrial markets, and an aerospace business that
provides ground-based logistics support software systems for the aviation
market. Further information about Spirent plc can be found at www.spirent.com
Spirent Ordinary shares are traded on the London Stock Exchange (ticker: SPT)
and on the New York Stock Exchange (ticker: SPM; CUSIP number: 84856M209) in the
form of American Depositary Shares (ADS), represented by American Depositary
Receipts, with one ADS representing four Ordinary shares.
Spirent and the Spirent logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Spirent
plc. All other trademarks or registered trademarks are held by their respective
companies. All rights reserved.
This press release may contain forward-looking statements (as that term is
defined in the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995)
based on current expectations or beliefs, as well as assumptions about future
events. You can sometimes, but not always, identify these statements by the use
of a date in the future or such words as "will", "anticipate", "estimate",
"expect", "project", "intend", "plan", "should", "may", "assume" and other
similar words. By their nature, forward-looking statements are inherently
predictive and speculative and involve risk and uncertainty because they relate
to events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the future. You should
not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which are not a
guarantee of future performance and are subject to factors that could cause our
actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these
statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: the effects of
competition on our business; the extent of recovery in customers' spending; our
ability to develop and commercialise new products and services, extend our
existing capabilities in IP services and expand our product offering
internationally and realise product synergies; risks relating to the acquisition
or sale of businesses and our subsequent ability to integrate businesses; our
ability to successfully adopt cost structures to respond to changes in business
conditions; our ability to improve efficiency and adapt to economic changes and
other changes in demand; changes in the business, financial condition or
prospects of one or more of our major customers; our reliance on third party
manufacturers and suppliers; risks of not retaining or increasing market share;
our exposure to liabilities for product defects; our reliance on proprietary
technology; our ability to attract and retain qualified personnel; risks of
doing business internationally; changes in exchange rate or market conditions in
the markets in which we participate or in general economic or political
conditions; and other risks described from time to time in Spirent plc's
Securities and Exchange Commission periodic reports and filings. The Company
undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in
this press release, whether as a result of new information, future events or
otherwise.
Signatures
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
______LUKE THOMAS______
(Registrant)
Date 11 May, 2004 By ____/s/ Luke Thomas____
(Signature)*