Acquisition

Vp PLC
22 October 2001


                                    Vp plc

                                 Acquisition



The directors of Vp plc, the equipment outsourcing specialist, announce the
acquisition of the assets and goodwill of the shoring business of Mechplant
Limited, a subsidiary of Shepherd Building Group for a consideration of £3.1m
to be satisfied in cash. The value of the net assets acquired is £2.8m.

The assets acquired in this transaction generated revenue of £3.7m in the
twelve months ended 30th June 2001. An associated profit figure is not
identifiable as the assets were integrated within other business activities.

The above assets will be integrated within Groundforce, Vp's own shoring
business, which provides rental and sale of excavation support systems and
associated products to the water, utility and civil engineering sectors.

Jeremy Pilkington, Chairman, commented :

'I am pleased that Vp have been able to acquire such a well established and
reputable shoring business to complement the high standards set by our
existing Groundforce activity, enabling us to strengthen further our already
strong market position'.



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Enquiries:

Jeremy Pilkington, Chairman & Chief Executive

Neil Stothard, Group Finance Director

Vp plc

Telephone : [phone]

www.vpplc.com   22nd October 2001