Vp acquires Indepth Hire

Vp PLC
04 September 2003

                                                                4 September 2003

                                     Vp plc

                          Acquisition of Indepth Hire

Vp plc, the equipment rental specialist, today announces the acquisition of
Indepth Hire for a cash consideration of £450,000.

Indepth, based in Staffordshire, is engaged in the hire, servicing and
calibration of cleanwater management equipment, such as data loggers, ultrasonic
flow meters and leakage detectors to water companies, consultants and
environmental agencies.

Indepth will be integrated within the Groundforce division of Vp which provides
rental, sales and design of shoring systems and allied services to the water,
civil engineering and construction industries.

Jeremy Pilkington, Chairman & Chief Executive commented:

'This acquisition and our purchase of Trench Shore in July continue to
strengthen our position as market leader within this sector.  Indepth is an
excellent complement to the Groundforce business and offers further product and
customer expansion opportunities, particularly in the water industry.'


                                    - Ends -


For further information:

Vp plc
Jeremy Pilkington, Chairman & Chief Executive          Tel: [phone]
Neil Stothard, Group Finance Director                  www.vpplc.com


Media enquiries:

Bankside
Sarah Carrell                                          Tel: [phone]
[e-mail]



Notes to Editors:

Vp plc

The principal activity of the Group is equipment rental and associated services
almost entirely conducted within the UK.  Vp plc listed on the London Stock
Exchange in 1973.
For the year ended 31 March 2003, Group turnover was £75.5 million.

The Group is focused on five businesses:


Torrent Trackside

•       Hire of portable track repair and renewals equipment, trackside lighting
        and related support services to rail infrastructure maintenance 
        companies.


Hire Station

•       Rental and sale of tools, small equipment and allied services to
        industry, construction and homeowners plus three specialist offerings:

-       Safeforce - hire and sale of safety and survey products, asset
        management and training services.

-       Lifting Point - materials handling and lifting gear hire.

-       One Call - national call centre for tool hire.


UK Forks

•       Hire of rough terrain material handling equipment and accessories to the
        house building and construction industry.  Unique in the transaction of 
        the business through a national call centre and dedicated services 
        outlets.


Groundforce

•       Rental, sale and design of shoring systems and allied services to the
        water, civil engineering and construction industries.


Airpac Oilfield Services


•       Servicing the international oil and gas exploration and development
        markets with specialist air compressors and associated equipment.


                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange