Acquisition

Hill & Smith Hldgs PLC
05 August 2005

Acquisition of Techspan Systems

Hill & Smith Holdings PLC ('Hill & Smith' or the 'Company') announces that it
has entered into an agreement to acquire the business and assets of Techspan
Systems Limited ('Techspan'), a wholly owned subsidiary of Jarvis plc, for a
cash consideration of approximately £0.9 million.

Techspan, which is based in Aylesbury, is a supplier of electronic information
displays to the UK roads market, providing up to the minute information for
motorists on such matters as road congestion, accidents and local speed limits.
The business designs, manufactures and installs electronic information displays
and other related applications.

In the year ended 31 March 2005, draft results indicate that Techspan made a
loss before taxation of £1.2 million on sales of approximately £2.0 million. The
book value of the gross assets being acquired by Hill & Smith amounts to £1.0
million. In addition, Hill & Smith is also taking over the lease of the property
occupied by Techspan.

All of the existing employees of Techspan, including the key members of the
management team, are transferring to Hill & Smith.

The Directors believe that Techspan will complement Hill & Smith's road
infrastructure business, and that its acquisition will benefit the Group by
strengthening and extending the existing product offering in that sector.

David Grove, Hill & Smith's chief executive, commented: 'We have bought Techspan
because it is a highly innovative business in a growing market. With the
pressure on to improve transport systems, cope with increased usage and reduce
congestion, a market leading business that supplies the latest in electronic
signs will integrate well with our core transport infrastructure businesses.'

Further information:
David Grove, Chief Executive
Hill & Smith Holdings PLC
Tel: [phone]

Edward Carter or Anna McNeil
Quantum Freshwater UK
Tel: [phone]

End
August 5th, 2005



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