CRH makes Swiss Acquisition

CRH PLC
9 November 2000


CRH ACQUIRES SWISS BUILDING MATERIALS GROUP 

CRH plc, the international building materials group, announces that it 
has agreed to buy the Jura Group, a major Swiss cement, aggregates and
ready-mixed concrete producer with a regional building materials 
distribution business, for a cash consideration, including debt assumed, 
of CHF 646 million (euro 425 million).  The acquisition balance sheet 
includes certain assets, valued at CHF 238 million (euro 156.6 million), 
which are not core to CRH and which CRH plans to dispose of post-acquisition,
resulting in an effective cost of CHF 408  million (euro 268.4 million) for
the retained operations.  No goodwill arises on this acquisition. 

Commenting on the acquisition, Liam O'Mahony, CRH Chief Executive, said: 

'The acquisition of Jura is very much in keeping with CRH's development
strategy, extending the geographical reach of our existing European
operations. With a fine management team already in place at Jura, we
anticipate a speedy integration of the group into CRH.  Jura's strong 
market positions in core CRH business sectors will allow us to benefit 
fully from the programme of major infrastructure projects in Switzerland 
which is set to underpin increasing demand for our products.'

Jura's integrated cement, aggregates and ready-mixed concrete businesses,
which have access to significant raw material reserves, will operate as a
stand-alone unit within the CRH Europe - Materials Division, adding an
important new geographic dimension to the Division's existing vertically
integrated operations in Ireland, Spain, Finland and Poland. 

Jura is the second largest cement manufacturer in Switzerland, with two
modern, well-equipped, energy-efficient cement plants, one in Wildegg 
in the north of the country and one in Cornaux in the west; in 1999, 
the group produced over 600,000 tonnes of cement.  Jura's aggregates and
ready-mixed concrete operations have strong regional positions in central 
and north-western Switzerland, producing approximately 1 million tonnes 
of aggregates and over 400,000 cubic metres of concrete annually.    

In addition to its manufacturing operations, Jura is a significant 
regional player in the Swiss distribution sector, with a current network 
of 43 outlets concentrated on heavy building materials, sanitary ware and
ceramic tiles. Jura's distribution business will join the CRH Europe -
Products & Distribution Division.  As part of the enlarged CRH Europe
distribution group, Jura will benefit from purchasing synergies and from
sharing of best practice with CRH's existing businesses, and should be a good
basis for further expansion by CRH in this fragmented sector in Switzerland.  


Estimated earnings before depreciation, goodwill amortisation and interest
(EBITDA) for the ongoing businesses for the year ending December 31, 2000
amount to CHF 58 million (euro 38.1 million) on sales of CHF 495 million 
(euro 325.7 million). Earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) for 2000 are
estimated at CHF 33 million (euro 21.7 million).   In 1999, these businesses
reported EBITDA of CHF 51.8 million (euro 34.1 million) while EBIT amounted 
to CHF 26.6 million (euro 17.5 million).

Contact :      [phone]

Liam O'Mahony, Chief Executive
Harry Sheridan, Finance Director
Myles Lee, General Manager - Finance


CRH plc, Belgard Castle, Clondalkin, Dublin 22, Ireland  
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