Acquisition

Diploma PLC
17 November 2003

                                                                     Diploma PLC

                                                           FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


17 NOVEMBER 2003


DIPLOMA ACQUIRES 100% OF FILCON ELECTRONIC GmbH
FOR A MAXIMUM CONSIDERATION OF £4.3 MILLION

Diploma PLC, the international specialised distribution group, is pleased to
announce the acquisition of 100% of Filcon Electronic GmbH ('Filcon'), a
supplier of specialist connectors principally into the defence and aerospace
markets in Germany.

The acquisition of Filcon, based in Taufkirchen near Munich, represents a
natural extension to the activities currently carried out in Germany by the
Group's Controls & Interconnect business, Sommer.

Boosted by Eurofighter related contracts, Filcon's profit before interest and
tax in respect of the year ended 31 December 2002 was £1.0m (€1.4m) on sales of
£8.3m (€11.9m).

The initial cash consideration payable on completion is £2.9m (€4.25m) which
will be subject to a minor adjustment relating to net assets at completion.
Further deferred consideration up to a maximum of £1.4m (€2.0m) will be payable
depending on the gross profits in 2003 and 2004.  At completion, net assets are
expected to be in the region of £0.7m (€1m) including cash balances of £0.2m
(€0.3m).

Bruce Thompson , Chief Executive of Diploma PLC reported:

'This acquisition provides a natural extension to our Sommer business in Germany
and gives us critical mass in attractive technical niche markets.'


For further enquiries please contact:


Bruce Thompson, Chief Executive Officer            020 7638 0934
Nigel Lingwood, Group Finance Director             020 7448 4875
Ian Seaton, Bankside Consultants                   020 7444 4157
Heather Salmond, Bankside Consultants              020 7444 4148




Diploma PLC 20 Bunhill Row, London, EC1Y 8UD           Telephone:  [phone]
                                                       Fax:  [phone]



NOTE TO EDITORS:

Diploma PLC is a specialised international distribution group operating in three
sectors:

Life Sciences - supply of Instrumentation, Consumables and Service to the
research laboratories of the major pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies,
universities and research institutions.  Principal companies are Anachem in the
UK and a1 - technologies in Germany.

Seals & Components - a next day delivery service for hydraulic seal kits,
gaskets and cylinder components, supplied to repair and maintenance operations
(RMOs) serving a broad range of mobile machinery aftermarkets.  Principal
companies are Hercules Bulldog Sealing Products in North America and FPE in the
UK.

Controls & Interconnect - distributors of specialised wiring, connection and
control devices into a range of technically demanding applications.  Principal
companies are IS Rayfast, Clarendon and Hawco in the UK and Sommer in Germany.
IS Motorsport, based in the UK, also has a start-up operation in the US.

Within each of these sectors, the Diploma businesses serve industry segments
with long term growth potential and with the opportunity for sustainable
superior margins through the quality of customer service, depth of technical
support and value adding activities.

In the year to 30 September 2003, Diploma reported sales of £77m and pretax
profits of over £10m.


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