Acquisition

Fisher (James) & Sons PLC
02 December 2004


                            James Fisher and Sons plc
                       ('James Fisher' or 'the Company')
                                  Acquisitions

James Fisher, the marine services provider, announces the acquisition of three
privately-owned companies, in the UK and Norway, Remote Marine Systems Limited
('RMS'), Nuclear Decommissioning Limited ('NDL') and Reanco Team AS ('Reanco'),
for a total consideration of £7.3 million in cash.  The acquisitions are being
funded out of existing resources.

These purchases further strengthen James Fisher's growing Marine Support
Services Division which, in the first half of 2004, contributed 46% of the
Company's operating profit against 14% two years ago and represented 24% of
assets employed.

Tim Harris, Chairman of James Fisher, said:

'These acquisitions represent the latest step in our strategy of expanding our
marine services activities and in particular increasing our presence in the
growing nuclear decommissioning market in Cumbria. Reanco adds to the range of
services offered to the clients of our Scan Tech business'.


Remote Marine Systems Limited ('RMS') and  Nuclear Decommissioning Limited ('NDL
')

The acquisition of the entire issued share capital of both RMS and NDL, which
were under common ownership, is for a cash consideration of £4.9 million. In the
year ended May 2004, RMS had a turnover of £3.47 million and a pre-tax profit of
£0.62 million.  Net assets at that date amounted to £3.67 million.

RMS was a privately-owned company based in Malton, North Yorkshire, with 64
employees, concentrating on the supply of specialist services and remote
handling equipment to the nuclear industry.  This involves design and assembly
of equipment, predominantly used in decommissioning of nuclear facilities.
These technical services are used on a number of client sites, the largest being
British Nuclear Fuel plc's ('BNFL') Sellafield base in Cumbria.

In addition, RMS has a successful 'Oilfield' division using their electrical
design skills to provide electrical equipment used for artificial lift systems
and for operation in hazardous zones in the demanding offshore and nuclear
environments, complementing James Fisher's existing presence in these markets.
NDL  provides consultancy services to the nuclear industry.

RMS and NDL will be combined with James Fisher's existing nuclear
decommissioning business and operate within a new company, James Fisher Nuclear
Limited.  Gordon Robertson, the current Managing Director of RMS, will become
Managing Director of the group's nuclear decommissioning division.


Reanco Team AS ('Reanco')

Reanco is a privately-owned company situated in Haugesund and Stavanger on the
Norwegian West Coast.  The entire issued share capital has been purchased for
NOK 25 million (£2.12 million), with a further deferred payment of up to NOK 3
million (£0.25 million) based on achieving certain profit targets for the
current year. In the year to December 2003 Reanco had a turnover of NOK 20.8
million (£1.8 million) and pre-tax profit of NOK 3.2 million (£0.27 million).

Reanco provides a specialist service to customers in the Norwegian sector of the
North Sea, upgrading accommodation and other facilities on fixed and floating
offshore installations.  This includes creating false floors, building noise
screens, refurbishing cabins and other services to ensure the facilities meet
new stringent Norwegian sector legislation relating to living space for offshore
personnel, including the recent demise of multi-occupancy cabins. The customers
are predominantly the same as those to whom Scan Tech already provides a variety
of services.

Reanco will be added to James Fisher's existing Scan Tech operations under its
Managing Director, Bjorn Erik Bjornsen, who is based in Stavanger.  The local
management will remain in place.  The company has 16 employees.


EC Hambro Rabben and Partners Ltd acted as corporate finance advisors for the
three acquisitions.


For further information, please contact:


James Fisher and Sons plc
Tim Harris                               Chairman                  020 7338 5808


EC Hambro Rabben & Partners
Eivind Rabben                                                      020 7355 4100
Peter Donald                                                       020 7355 4100


Binns & Co PR
Peter Binns                                                        020 7786 9600
Paul McManus                                                       07980 541893










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