Disposal Completed, etc

BICC PLC
31 March 2000


BICC COMPLETES SALE OF BRAND-REX CABLE BUSINESSES FOR £145 MILLION
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BICC, the international engineering, construction and services group,
announces today that it has completed the sale of its datacommunication and
speciality cable businesses, Brand-Rex, to Caradon plc.  The total
consideration is £145 million based on net assets as at 31 December 1999 of
£64 million.

This follows shareholder approval of the sale at an Extraordinary General
Meeting today.

The net cash proceeds of approximately £137 million, after expenses, will
initially be held on deposit and will in due course be used in two ways.

Firstly, a number of potential acquisitions and investments have been
identified which would strengthen the Group's position in its chosen growth
areas, particularly in rail and privately financed projects.  Discussions are
currently ongoing in relation to potential transactions in both North America
and continental Europe.  A substantial proportion of the net proceeds of the
disposal are expected to be deployed in this way.

Secondly, it is intended that, subject to market conditions and future
circumstances, not less than £40 million will be utilized in buying back
Ordinary and Convertible Preference Shares.  Authority to buy back Ordinary
and Preference Shares was received at today's Extraordinary General Meetings
and at a Separate Class Meeting of Preference Shareholders.

BICC Chief Executive, Mike Welton, commenting today, said:

'The sale of Brand-Rex, which follows the radical restructuring of the Group
in 1999, allows us to concentrate fully on the engineering, construction and
services activities of Balfour Beatty.

'Our priorities for 2000 are to further refine the business mix, invest in our
growth businesses and to continue managing the improvement and development
strategies in each of our four principal business streams.

'We believe that the disposal of Brand-Rex at a strategic value and the
proposed use of the proceeds will over time significantly increase shareholder
value.'

Shareholder approval to change the name of the Company from BICC plc to
Balfour Beatty plc was also received at today's Extraordinary General Meeting.
This change will become effective on Wednesday 10 May, following the Company's
AGM.


Enquiries to:
Tim Sharp
Head of Corporate Communications
BICC plc
Tel: [phone]
www.bicc.com