BTR PLC - Acquisition

RNS No 8438p
BTR PLC
19th August 1998

     BTR ACQUIRES TELECOMS POWER EQUIPMENT BUSINESS

BTR  announces  the  acquisition  of  Swichtec  Power  Systems
Limited  ("Swichtec")  for  a  maximum  consideration  of  #44
million  (NZ$141 million).  The initial consideration  is  #23
million with additional earn-out payments of up to #21 million
dependent  on  the financial performance of  Swichtec  in  the
years ended 31 December 1998 and 1999.  The transaction is not
conditional on any regulatory approvals and was simultaneously
executed and completed earlier today.

Swichtec  designs and manufactures direct current  (DC)  power
equipment  for telecommunications applications such as  mobile
phone  networks  and is a major supplier to the  fast  growing
markets  of Asia Pacific and Latin America.  Swichtec supplies
products worldwide from its base in New Zealand.  In addition,
it  has  assembly operations in Malaysia and China  and  sales
offices in the UK, Brazil and South Africa.  In the year ended
31 March 1998, Swichtec reported sales and operating profit of
#19  million  and  #3 million respectively.  Sales  growth  in
recent  years has been well in excess of 10% per annum and  as
at  31  March  1998 Swichtec had net operating  assets  of  #6
million.  Swichtec has over 600 employees worldwide.

Swichtec  and  BTR  supply  the same major  telephone  systems
operators    and    telecommunications   original    equipment
manufacturers  with DC power supplies and stand-by  batteries.
These   common  customers  are  serviced  through   the   same
distribution  networks and are increasingly  seeking  packaged
power  systems  rather than sourcing individual  power  supply
components.

Commenting  on the acquisition, Ian Strachan, Chief  Executive
of BTR said:

"Swichtec  has  world  leading  switch-mode  power  conversion
technology  and serves high growth industries such  as  mobile
telecommunications.   The combination  of  Swichtec  with  our
global  reach in stand-by batteries and uninterruptible  power
supplies, as well as our strong customer relationships in  the
telecommunications    sector,   offers    additional    growth
opportunities  for BTR.  We are pleased to  have  secured  the
acquisition of Swichtec and the continued commitment  of  the
existing  management  team to grow the  business  under  BTR's
ownership."


For further information contact:
Investors and Analysts
David Robbie                                        Tel: [phone]
Media
Peter Gavan                                         Tel: [phone]
Jonathan Glass, Brunswick                           Tel: [phone]


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