Europen Rooflights Business Acquired

CRH PLC
27 March 2000

CRH ACQUIRES ROOFLIGHTS BUSINESS IN EUROPE

CRH plc, the international building materials group, announces that it has
reached agreement with Yule Catto & Co plc to purchase its rooflights
interests for a  cash consideration,  including debt assumed, of euro 77
million. The transaction is expected to close by the end of April 2000 subject
to the necessary regulatory approvals. 

Yule Catto Rooflights, with its strong market positions in Germany, the
Netherlands,  the UK  and Ireland,  is an ideal addition to CRH's existing
Daylight & Ventilation division which has operations in Germany,  the
Netherlands and Belgium. The enlarged group will have annualised sales
approaching euro 150 million and 1,000 employees. 

In 1999, Yule Catto Rooflights reported profits before interest, depreciation
and amortisation of euro 10.6 million on sales of euro 63 million. Trading
profits after depreciation amounted to euro 8.7 million. Goodwill arising on
the acquisition amounts to euro 57 million.

This acquisition will give CRH the widest product range and a balanced
geographic spread of activities in the European market for rooflight and
ventilation systems.  Growth in this sector is driven by the trend towards
natural light and ventilation in buildings and by increasingly stringent fire
and safety regulations across Europe. 

Yule Catto's decision to sell its rooflights interests is part of a continuing
strategy of concentrating on its core business in the specialty chemicals
sector.

Commenting on the acquisition, Brian Hill, Group Managing Director, CRH Europe
Products & Distribution, said:  

'This is an excellent deal for both parties.  The acquisition presents a
unique and exciting opportunity for CRH's Daylight & Ventilation division to
deliver on its strategy of becoming the European market leader in this
fast-growing, standards-driven sector.   The integration of Yule Catto
Rooflights with our existing activities in this sector, gives an excellent
geographic spread across most of northern Europe's biggest markets and will
result in significant synergies.' 



Contact CRH at Dublin 404 1000 ([phone])

Liam O'Mahony, Chief Executive 
Harry Sheridan, Finance Director          
Myles Lee, General Manager Finance
    
CRH plc, Belgard Castle, Clondalkin, Dublin 22, Ireland  
Telephone: [phone]  FAX [phone]
E-MAIL [e-mail]       WEBSITE www.crh.ie  
Registered Office: 42 Fitzwilliam Square, Dublin 2, Ireland