Acquisition of shares

Costain Group PLC
28 May 2004


Costain Group PLC

Acquisition of shares

Costain Engineering & Construction (Overseas) Limited (the 'Company') a
subsidiary of Costain Group PLC has acquired 46,893,750 fully paid up shares
with a nominal value of 50 kobo (0.50k) per share in Costain (West Africa) Plc
('CWA') a company listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange. The Company thereby
increased its percentage interest in the issued share capital of CWA from 7.24%
to 36.56%.

                                                                     28 May 2004

Enquiries:

  Costain Group PLC          Tel: [phone]
  Stuart J Doughty
  Clive L Franks

  College Hill               Tel: [phone]     [e-mail]
  Mark Garaway


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