Acquisition

Balfour Beatty PLC
21 November 2003


21 November 2003


             BALFOUR BEATTY ACQUIRES ATKINS' SHARE IN CONNECT ROADS
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Balfour Beatty, the international engineering, construction and services group,
announces today that it has agreed to acquire Atkins' 32.2% shareholdings in
Connect Roads Limited and Connect M77/GSO Holdings Limited for £13.3 million
cash. Balfour Beatty already owns 67.8% of the equity. Connect is responsible
for the design and build, financing, operation ('DBFO') and maintenance of the
A50 in Derbyshire, A30/A35 in Devon and Dorset and the M77 in Scotland.

The value of the net assets attributable to the investment acquired is £9.1
million. In the financial year ended 31 March 2003, the pre-tax profit
attributable to the acquired shareholdings in the two companies was £2.8
million. The transaction together with previous investment returns values the
equity and subordinated debt at approximately three times the entry value.

Balfour Beatty's PPP/PFI interests are detailed on the website,
www.balfourbeattyppp.com.

                                      ENDS

Enquiries to:
Tim Sharp
Tel: [phone]
www.balfourbeatty.com




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