BTR PLC - Acquisition

RNS No 1189r
BTR PLC
31st July 1997


BTR BATTERIES BUSINESS ACQUIRES BRAZIL'S
LEADING MANUFACTURER OF INDUSTRIAL BATTERIES


BTR  plc announces that its batteries business - Hawker  -  has
acquired   the  industrial  batteries  division  of  Microlite,
Brazil's leading industrial batteries manufacturer, for a  cash
consideration  of  US $72 million.  The newly-acquired  company
will trade as Saturnia Hawker Sistemas de Energia.  Saturnia is
based  in  Sao Paulo, with its main manufacturing  facility  in
Sorocaba.

Hawker  manufactures a full range of batteries (in  sealed  and
conventional  lead/acid,  nickel/cadmium,  lithium  and   other
chemistries),  as  well as power supply systems  and  chargers.
The business joined BTR in 1991, as part of the acquisition  of
Hawker Siddeley.  Since then, BTR has grown Hawker by extensive
capital  investment  to  build on its  strong  technology  base
(particularly in pure lead technology), and by acquisitions  in
North America, Europe, Singapore, and China - where it recently
purchased  Huada, the region's leading supplier  of  industrial
batteries.   Part  of the BTR Process Control  Group,  Hawker's
1996 sales were in excess of #520 million.

Commenting  on  the  acquisition, Chris  Burns,  BTR  Executive
Director  responsible  for  BTR Process  Control,  said:  "This
acquisition  is  Hawker's first venture in South  America.   It
accords  with our global strategy and consolidates our position
as  the world's leading manufacturer and supplier of industrial
batteries.   We  now  operate  on every  major  continent,  and
provide  an unrivalled product offering.  Saturnia gives  us  a
commanding  presence  in South America's  fast  growth  markets
allowing  us  to  manufacture locally in  Brazil,  providing  a
complete systems capability for customers in telecommunication,
computer backup and power generation."

For further information contact:

Stuart Gendall              Tel: [phone]
Manager Corporate Communications, BTR plc

Victoria Sabin              Tel: [phone]
Brunswick


END