Acquisition

Grafton Group PLC
29 November 2000


        Acquisition of the Trade and Assets of Lowden and Partners Ltd



Grafton Group plc announces that it has acquired the trade and assets
including goodwill of Lowden and Partners Ltd ('Lowdens') excluding the tile
business of Huttons.


Lowdens, a subsidiary of Readymix (NI) Ltd, is a successful builders merchant
trading from three locations in Northern Ireland located in Belfast, Craigavon
and Derry.


Lowdens' branches are a good geographic fit with the five existing Macnaughton
Blair Builders Centres in Belfast, Antrim, Ballymoney, Cookstown, and
Coleraine. This acquisition will strengthen Macnaughton Blair's position as
the leading builders merchant in Northern Ireland and provide opportunities
for the enlarged business to realise benefits of scale and gives Macnaughton
Blair a stronger platform for any further expansion opportunities which may
arise.

For Reference:                                                 29 November 2000

Michael Chadwick                                                     Joe Murray

Executive Chairman                                           Murray Consultants

Grafton Group plc                                Telephone: ++(353)[phone]

Telephone: ++(353)[phone]

                                                                 Ginny Pulbrook
Colm o Nuallain
                                                         Citigate Dewe Rogerson
Finance Director
                                                Telephone: ++(44)[phone]
Grafton Group plc

Telephone: ++(353)[phone]




     This statement is also available on our web site www.graftonplc.com