Subsidiary's Acquisition of Tool Hire Businesses

Allen PLC
20 March 2000



                      ALLEN PLC ('Allen')
 (Hire Services, Housebuilding, Civil Engineering Contracting,
                     Building Contracting)

                               
             ALLEN EXPANDS HIRE SERVICES DIVISION

Allen  Plc, the construction services and building contracting
group,  has  acquired  two tool hire businesses  for  a  total
consideration of £743,000.

Speedy  Hire Centres (Northern) has acquired the business  and
assets  of  Targett Power Equipment Services Ltd of Scunthorpe
and  Speedy Hire Centres (Southern) has acquired the  business
and assets of Hire Easy Ltd based in Bexley in Kent.

Ken Fox, the Chief Executive of Allen, said:

'These  two  acquisitions increase our geographic coverage  in
the UK and are in line with our policy of planned expansion in
the tool hire sector.

'We now have a total of 175 'Speedy' depots and offer national
coverage to our customers.'


For further information contact:

Ken Fox (Chief Executive)                         01204 699277
                                           (8.00 am - 5.00 pm)

Neil O'Brien (Finance Director)                   01204 699277
                                           (8.00 am - 5.00 pm)

Brian Coleman-Smith                              020 7786 9600
Binns & Co Public Relations                (7.00 am - 6.00 pm)