Acquisition

LAWRENCE PLC
28 September 1999


US acquisition

Lawrence plc (speciality chemicals and manufacture and distribution of pet
accessories) announces the purchase on 27 September 1999 of the assets of The
Aquarium Inc, trading as Aquarium Products in Baltimore, US for $1.8m cash and
a maximum earnout of $400,000.   These assets have been put into Interpet LLC,
a new US subsidiary of Lawrence plc.

The Aquarium Inc (aquatic accessories manufacturer and distributor) has been
the US distributor for over 20 years of Interpet Limited, a 100% owned
subsidiary of Lawrence plc, whose main business is the manufacture and
marketing of pet products and accessories.    The owner will retire after a
handover process.   The business is well established with sales to Walmart,
Petsmart, Petco and most other pet and aquarium retailers.

The unaudited net assets at 31 December 1998 of the business being acquired
were equivalent to £313,811 and in the year ended 31 December 1998 the
unaudited pre-tax profit was £125,000 on turnover of £1,634,000.

Peter Lawrence, chairman of Lawrence plc declared, 'the US business's current
portfolio of products is still small and we see a good opportunity to expand
it.'


For further information, please contact:


Peter Lawrence - Lawrence plc (0181 336 2900)