Acquisition

Hargreaves Services PLC
02 May 2008



For Immediate Release                                                2 May 2008



                            HARGREAVES SERVICES PLC
                         (the 'Group' or 'Hargreaves')


Acquisition of Majority Share in Maxibrite Limited by Coal4Energy Joint Venture
                                for £4.7 million

Hargreaves Services PLC (AIM: HSP), a leading supplier of support services to
the energy, mineral and waste sectors, today announces that Coal4Energy Limited
has acquired a majority share in Maxibrite Limited ('Maxibrite').

Maxibrite is based in South Wales and is a leading manufacturer of solid fuel
and produces 60,000 tonnes of quality smokeless fuel briquettes for the domestic
markets in the UK, Eire and France.

Coal4Energy Limited is a joint venture owned equally by UK Coal plc and
Hargreaves which, since formation, has grown rapidly to become the largest
supplier of coal to the UK domestic and industrial markets.

Based on unaudited management accounts, in the 12 months ended 31 March 2008
Maxibrite generated a net profit of approximately £0.75 million on revenue of
£7.5 million. Net assets at that date were approximately £2.5 million. The
majority share acquired was 85.2% with the balance being retained by a
shareholder of the former family owned company. The consideration of £4.7
million was paid in cash by Coal4Energy.

Gordon Banham, Hargreaves' Chief Executive Officer, said, 'Maxibrite is a great
acquisition for Coal4Energy that will strengthen its market position and build
on the excellent progress that has been made since the joint-venture was formed
less than two years ago. Maxibrite will add new customers and products to
Coal4Energy's portfolio and Coal4Energy will extend Maxibrite's customer base
and geographic reach.'


Enquiries:


Hargreaves Services                                               0191 373 4485
Gordon Banham, CEO
Iain Cockburn, Finance Director

Buchanan Communications                                           0207 466 5000
Tim Anderson, Diane Stewart, Catherine Breen

Brewin Dolphin Investment Banking                                 0113 241 0187
Andrew Kitchingman



END



About Maxibrite Limited

Maxibrite Limited is located in Llantrisant, near Cardiff, South Wales, and is
the leading independent solid fuel manufacturer in the UK.

Maxibrite Limited produces quality smokeless coal briquettes for both open fires
and closed appliance applications, and serves the domestic fuel market in the UK
as well as exporting to Eire, France, Belgium and Norway


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