Acquisition

Anglo American PLC
19 December 2002



News Release

19 December 2002


Tarmac acquires 23% of Johnston Group plc

Tarmac Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Anglo American plc, has today
agreed to acquire 2,502,236 ordinary shares in Johnston Group plc, a
construction materials and engineering group, representing approximately 23.04%
of the company, from TT electronics plc.  The price to be paid is 425 pence per
share in cash amounting to a total of £10.6 million.


For further information:

Anglo American - London

Media Relations

Kate Aindow

Tel:  [phone]





Notes to Editors:



Anglo American plc is one of the world's largest mining and natural resource
groups. With its subsidiaries, joint ventures and associates, it is a global
leader in gold, platinum group metals and diamonds, with significant interests
in coal, base and ferrous metals, industrial minerals and forest products. The
group is geographically diverse, with operations in Africa, Europe, South and
North America and Australia. (www.angloamerican.co.uk)



Johnston Group plc is a construction materials and engineering group. Its
principal activities are the manufacture of road sweepers and related equipment
and the production of aggregates and asphalt, from two quarries and two asphalt
plants in the West Midlands.  It also manufactures concrete and glass reinforced
pipes.





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