Acquisition

Johnson Service Group PLC
15 April 2004



                                                                   15 April 2004

            Johnson  Service Group PLC Acquires HSS Event Hire


Johnson Service Group PLC today announces the acquisition, through its
subsidiary Johnson Hospitality Services Ltd, of the business and certain assets
of HSS Event Hire, a division of the HSS Group, strengthening its position as
the number one hospitality equipment and related furniture hire company in the
UK.


The consideration is £1.5m payable in cash on completion.  The existing
operational management will remain with the business and, in time, it will be
integrated under the brand of 'Johnson Hospitality Services'.


The enlarged Johnson Hospitality Services is now clearly the UK's largest
hospitality hire company, able to fulfil customer requirements nationally. As a
result of the acquisition, Johnson Hospitality Services now has operations in
London, Crawley, Birmingham, Bristol, Manchester, Malpas, Liverpool, Leeds and
Glasgow.


In addition to the expanded geographic coverage, the acquisition has extended
Johnson Hospitality Services' product offering to include such items as
specialised marquees and moveable roadways thereby creating a more flexible and
bespoke service for customers.


Johnson Group CEO, Stuart Graham, said: 'The acquisition of HSS Event Hire
reinforces our position as the UK's leading supplier to the hospitality event
hire market. The combined activities of Johnson Stalbridge Linen Services and
the enlarged Johnson Hospitality Services signal our determination to enhance
continually the range of services offered to our customers.  HSS has
traditionally been more active in regional events, which by their nature are
less seasonal and highly complementary to realising efficiencies within our fast
growing hospitality activities. Additionally, the acquisition will greatly
expand the customer base of Johnson Hospitality Services.'


Johnson Hospitality Services Managing Director, Rupert Higgin, commented: 'We
are committed to growing our business and this acquisition will consolidate our
position as the number one event hire company.'


For further information about Johnson Hospitality Services log onto
www.j-hs.co.uk



                                     -ENDS-

Notes to editors - The Johnson Service Group





Johnson Hospitality Services provides the catering and events industries with
one of the largest selections of quality catering, hospitality furniture and
equipment for hire. From small intimate gatherings through to major sporting
events catering for 30,000 people or more, Johnson Hospitality Services Ltd is
able to supply a very wide range of equipment nationwide. The range of products
supplied includes; china, cutlery, linen, cooking and refrigeration equipment,
barbecues, as well as banqueting, garden and office furniture, specialised
marquees and moveable roadways.



Johnsons Apparelmaster is Britain's market leader in workwear rental and CCM is
a manufacturer and sourcer of workwear garments and related apparel. Stalbridge
Linen is the UK market leading linen supplier to the leisure, professional
catering and corporate hospitality sector.



Johnson Workplace Management is a leading provider of a wide range of facilities
management services and solutions. Alex Reid is the UK's leading sales and
distribution business to the clothes care market.



Johnsons Cleaners is Britain's leading drycleaner with over 520 shops.




For further information, please contact:


Hudson Sandler                                      Johnson Service Group PLC

Sandrine Boussard / James Benjamin                  Stuart Graham, CEO
Telephone: [phone]                            Mike Sutton, CFO
                                                    Telephone: [phone]
                                                    Website: johnsonplc.com




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