Acquisitions

RNS Number:1526U
Aggregate Industries PLC
13 January 2004

Tuesday, 13 January 2004





                            AGGREGATE INDUSTRIES PLC

            Two Further UK Acquisitions & Lifting of FHA Suspension


Aggregate Industries, the international aggregates and building materials group,
has completed two further bolt-on acquisitions in the UK.  The group also
announces that the temporary suspension of its Massachusetts subsidiary
Aggregate Industries Northeast from bidding for new federal contracts has now
been lifted.



Acquisitions of Aggregate Supplies Ltd & Concrete Developments



The group has purchased the entire issued share capital of Aggregate Supplies
Ltd, a bagging business based in Wembley with 10 strategically located plants
throughout the southern half of England.  Aggregate Industries already supplies
a wide range of bagged and packed building products to private and public sector
customers in the UK through its Quarrypak operation, which this acquisition will
complement.  Richard Catt, Aggregate Supplies' general manager, will remain with
the business reporting to Alan Smith, director of Bradstone.  Aggregate
Supplies, which has 220 employees, sold approximately 2 million tonnes of bagged
aggregates and had a turnover of approximately #32 million in the year to 31
December 2003.



The group has also acquired a 51pc interest in Concrete Developments, taking
Aggregate Industries into the new market of pre-cast concrete flooring.  The
company, which trades as Melton Concrete Products, operates two factories, in
Fairford, Gloucestershire and Newark, Nottinghamshire, respectively
manufacturing beam & block and hollow core flooring.  The business will continue
to trade as Melton Concrete Products and will be run by the current directors,
Keith Sprules and Ian Carling.



Peter Tom, group chief executive, commented: "We've kicked off the new year with
two important new bolt-on acquisitions in the UK.  Both these new businesses are
in growing markets and provide further value-added outlets for our quarries and
sand & gravel pits."



The consideration paid for Aggregate Supplies was #7.3 million (including
assumed debt), and the consideration for the acquisition of the shareholding in
Concrete Developments was #5 million.



Lifting of FHA Suspension



Following constructive discussions over the last three months with the US
Federal Highway Administration, the temporary suspension of the group's
Massachusetts business from participating in new federal contracts has been
lifted with immediate effect.





                                  -   ends   -





Further information about Aggregate Industries can be found at www.aggregate.com


Contacts:



Peter Tom, Group Chief Executive
Chris Bailey, Group Finance Director
Aggregate Industries plc                                 Tel:   [phone]


Steve Jacobs
Financial Dynamics                                       Tel:   [phone]




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