Chronos Richardson Group Acquired

Babcock International Group PLC
21 June 2000



Contact:       Ginny Pulbrook or Oskar Yasar
               Citigate Dewe Rogerson
               020 7638 9571

          BABCOCK ACQUIRES CHRONOS RICHARDSON GROUP

                             

Babcock  International  Group PLC  has  today  acquired  the
entire  share  capital  of Chronos  Holdings  Ltd  ('Chronos
Richardson') for a total consideration of £1.7m.  There will
be  £1.5m of cash consideration with £0.2m deferred, payable
based on performance over the next 2 years and 9 months.

Chronos  Richardson  is market leader in bagging,  weighing,
dosing  and  batching technologies including  plant  control
systems.   Businesses served include the chemical, plastics,
rubber,  food and feed industries.  With a turnover  in  the
year  ending 31.12.99 of £29.3m, Chronos Richardson operates
from the UK (Nottingham), Germany, France, Italy and the USA
and has a joint venture in India.  Net assets on acquisition
will be approximately £1.5m and in the year to 31.12.99  the
company made a loss before tax of £0.8m.

The  acquisition  of  Chronos  Richardson  extends  the  BMH
business into the chemical and food industries and gives new
customers access to existing BMH products and services.   It
complements  BMH  building  materials  businesses   by   the
addition  of  batching, electronic weighing and  palletising
technologies.   It  also  extends  BMH's  services   network
through  the Chronos Richardson dedicated service operations
in Thailand and Malaysia.

The  incorporation of Chronos Richardson into BMH will allow
it  to  be  refocused  to reduce operating  costs  and  take
advantage of the extensive global network of BMH to increase
market presence and efficiency.  The acquisition is expected
to  contribute  positively to BMH  earnings  from  the  next
financial year.