Acquisition

SENIOR PLC
17 September 1999
         
               Senior Makes Major European Aerospace Acquisition

SENIOR  PLC  ('Senior')  is  pleased to announce  that  it  has  acquired  the
Aerospace  Ducting  Division of Cork Industries Limited  ('Cork')  for  a  net
consideration  of  approximately  £51.9  million.  Cork's  Aerospace   Ducting
Division is a world leading composite rigid and flexible ducting manufacturer,
as  well  as  a  producer of metallic bellows and ducting.   This  acquisition
represents a significant addition to Senior's Aerospace activities, broadening
and  enhancing  both Senior's product range and the Group's exposure   to  key
customers and markets in the global aerospace business.

The transaction was structured as the purchase of the entire share capital  of
Cork  for  a  cash consideration of £48.3 million and the assumption  of  £1.7
million  of  non-interest  bearing loan notes and  £1.9  million  of  interest
bearing  loan notes.  Additionally, Senior assumed certain bank  and other 
debt within Cork, immediately followed by the sale to the vendors  of  Cork's
non-aerospace  ducting  businesses for £1,  together  with  the  vendors'  re-
assumption of such bank and other debt.

The  cash  consideration was satisfied from the Group's  existing  facilities.
The  exact consideration is dependent on the debt-free value of net assets  at
closing,  which  are  currently expected to be £8.3  million.   Following  the
acquisition, Senior will have net debt of approximately £157 million.

In  the  year  ended 30 June 1999, Cork's Aerospace Ducting Division  reported
consolidated  sales  and  profits  before tax  (before  charging  interest  of
approximately  £0.1  million  in respect of the interest  bearing  loan  notes
assumed), of approximately £22.4 million and £5.0 million, respectively.  Debt
free consolidated net assets reported as at 30 June 1999 were £8.6 million.

Cork's  Aerospace Ducting Division serves both the European and North American
aerospace markets.  It designs and manufactures composite and metallic ducting
used  in  the  commercial,  regional and business jet,  and  general  aviation
markets, operating from two sites in the UK and one in the US. Major customers
include Airbus, Boeing, Bombardier, Cessna, Embraer and Raytheon.

Composite  ducting  products  are principally  used  in  low  temperature  and
pressure  applications, for example avionics ventilation, cabin recirculation,
acoustic silencers, air conditioning supply, flight deck air distribution  and
windscreen  demisting.  The acquisition is therefore highly  complementary  to
Senior's SSP Division in California, already a world leader in the design  and
manufacture of metallic ducting systems, significantly enhancing its  existing
product  portfolio. The acquisition also brings Senior additional exposure  to
the  strongly  growing regional jet sector of the aerospace  market,  offering
additional opportunities for Senior's existing aerospace businesses. The  bulk
of the newly acquired business will be managerially integrated with SSP.

Commenting on the acquisition, Andrew Parrish, Senior's Group Chief  Executive
said:   'The acquisition of Cork's Aerospace Ducting Division is a major  step
in  the  strategic  development of Senior's aerospace  business.   It  clearly
reinforces Senior Flexonics' position as a major global supplier of  aerospace
and  space ducting systems.  The addition of composite flexible ducting to our
range  allows Senior Flexonics to extend its system supplier approach  and  to
provide global engine and airframe manufacturers with a single source for  the
design and manufacture of complete ducting systems.

This  aerospace  acquisition  meets Senior's  publicly  stated  objectives  of
substantially expanding the Group's manufacturing and market presence  in  the
UK  and  Continental  Europe as well as increasing Senior's  exposure  to  the
robust regional jet market sector in North and South America.

We  have  been evaluating this acquisition for more than twelve  months.   The
consideration  of  approximately  £51.9  million  represents  a  multiple   of
approximately  10.4 times historic operating profits.  We  believe  the  price
reflects the Aerospace Ducting Division's growth prospects and the substantial
potential  which  the  business brings to Senior's existing  activities.   The
acquisition  is expected to be immediately earnings enhancing before  goodwill
amortisation, with improvements in 2000, based on recently awarded programmes,
slightly biased towards the second half of the year.

Though  not  a primary reason for the acquisition, the additional  UK  profits
will,  through the utilisation of UK tax losses, materially assist in reducing
the overall effective tax rate for the Group.

Following  the  acquisition of Pathway, the world leader  in  expansion  joint
manufacture, for approximately £22 million earlier in 1999, the acquisition of
Cork's Aerospace Ducting Division completes Senior's programme to reinvest the
proceeds  of  the disposal of the bulk of the Engineered Products  &  Services
activity in its core Flexonics business.  Senior's acquisition investment  now
totals  approximately  £87 million in 1999 to date.  The  Group  continues  to
pursue  acquisitions that both enhance its product range and deliver upon  our
strategic objectives.'

For further information, please contact:

SENIOR PLC                                 01923 775547
Andrew Parrish, Group Chief Executive
Terry Garthwaite, Group Finance Director
Glenn Timms, Director - Corporate Development


Senior Flexonics Inc                       001 630 372 3000
William Kowal, Chief Operating Officer, Senior Flexonics

Finsbury                                   0171 251 3801
James Murgatroyd
Morgan Bone

Internet  users  will be able to view this announcement, together  with  other
information about SENIOR PLC, on the web site www.seniorplc.com

Notes to Editors

SENIOR  PLC is an international engineering group with a market capitalisation
of approximately £310 million.  It is the clear global leader in the design,
manufacture  and  marketing of thin-walled flexible tubing  and  related  high
technology products, servicing the Aerospace (including Space), Automotive and
Specialised industrial markets.