Acquisition

Balfour Beatty PLC
02 April 2007



2 April 2007


                    BALFOUR BEATTY COMPLETES ACQUISITION OF
                    =======================================
                         CENTEX CONSTRUCTION IN THE US
                         =============================


Balfour Beatty plc, the leading engineering, construction, services and
investment group, announces the completion of its acquisition of Centex
Construction, the leading US building construction company, for a cash
consideration of $362 million.

The acquisition, which was announced on 1 February, is a major step forward in
the Group's long-term strategy of building a major domestic presence in the US
on Balfour Beatty's UK model and gives Balfour Beatty pro-forma annual US
revenues of approximately $3.5 billion.

Commenting on the acquisition, Balfour Beatty Chief Executive, Ian Tyler, said:

'Centex Construction is a high-quality building company which gives us
profitable critical mass in the US in a core Balfour Beatty business and brings
substantial new business development opportunities. We anticipate that it also
will make a strong, immediate contribution to growth and generate significant
value for our shareholders.'

Balfour Beatty is already a US leader in selected design, project and programme
management markets through Heery International and has established a presence in
the growing US private finance market through Balfour Beatty Capital. The
acquisition of Centex Construction offers Balfour Beatty additional potential to
grow in its target building and investment markets, as well as a strong,
well-positioned and well-managed business.


Balfour Beatty is already established in the US not only through Heery and
Balfour Beatty Capital but also through its civil engineering business, Balfour
Beatty Infrastructure Inc, and Balfour Beatty Rail Inc.

Centex Construction, which has been renamed Balfour Beatty Construction LLC with
immediate effect, joins the Balfour Beatty Group with significant net cash in
its balance sheet.

It is anticipated that the acquisition will be significantly earnings per share
enhancing in 2007 and thereafter(1) will generate significant value for Balfour
Beatty shareholders. The acquisition has been funded from Balfour Beatty's
existing cash resources.

                                      ENDS

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


Notes

(1) Statements as to earnings per share enhancement do not constitute a profit
forecast and should not be interpreted to mean that Balfour Beatty's earnings
per share will necessarily exceed or match those of any prior year.





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