Sale of Rooflights Businesses for £38.6m

Yule Catto & Co PLC
27 March 2000

  
                               
                Yule Catto & Co plc ('Yule Catto')
                   Sale of Rooflights businesses
                                 
Yule Catto exchanged conditional contracts today with CRH plc, the
Irish building products group, to sell its rooflight businesses in
the   UK,   Eire,  Germany  and  the  Netherlands  for   a   total
consideration  of  Euro63 million payable in  cash  on  completion
(approximately £38.6m).

The  rooflights businesses comprise Jet Kunststofftechnik GmbH and
its  associated companies in Germany, Bik Bouwprodukten BV in  the
Netherlands,  a  50% equity interest in the joint venture  holding
company  which owns Williaam Cox Ireland Limited in Eire  and  the
business  which trades as Cox Building Products in  the  UK.   The
combined  sales  of the rooflights businesses were Euro63  million
for  the year ended 31 December 1999 and profit before tax for the
same period was Euro6.8 million.  The net assets of the rooflights
businesses  at  31  December  1999  totalled  Euro1  million   and
aggregate  borrowings being assumed by CRH were Euro14 million  at
that date.

The  rooflights  businesses will form part of CRH's  international
approach  to the market for rooflights and architectural  glazing,
adding   to   their  existing  operations  in  Germany   and   the
Netherlands.

Completion of the transaction is, amongst other things, subject to
clearance being obtained from the Department of Enterprise,  Trade
and Employment in Eire.

The  sale  follows the purchase in November 1999 by Yule Catto  of
the  outstanding 50% shareholdings in Synthomer Ltd and  Synthomer
GmbH,   producers  of  synthetic  latex  polymers  and  compounded
latices,  from its joint venture partner Reichhold  Inc,  and  the
earlier £251 million acquisition of Holliday Chemical Holdings PLC
in  1998.   It marks a continuation by Yule Catto of a  policy  to
concentrate on development of its speciality chemicals activities.

In  the  short  term the proceeds of sale will be used  to  reduce
indebtedness.

Commenting  on the transaction Alex Walker, Group Chief  Executive
of  Yule  Catto  said  'Under Yule Catto  ownership  each  of  our
rooflights businesses has developed a strong market position  with
excellent opportunities for growth.  Within a successful  building
products group such as CRH we are sure that they will continue  to
flourish  and  we  wish  all the management  and  employees  every
success in the future.'

Brian  Hill  of  CRH  said  'This is an excellent  deal  for  both
parties.   The combination of CRH's and Yule Catto's daylight  and
ventilation  activities  creates  a  pan-European  business   with
tremendous opportunities in the combined entity.'



For further information contact:  S V Cummins - Finance Director
                                  Tel: [phone]