Acquisition

Scottish & Southern Energy PLC 17 January 2005 17 January 2005 SCOTTISH AND SOUTHERN ENERGY ACQUIRES 'BPS' - ELECTRICAL CONTRACTING FIRM Scottish and Southern Energy plc ('SSE'), has completed the acquisition from Alfred McAlpine Utility Services SE Ltd, of the assets of its Business Power and Systems operation ('BPS'), the electrical contracting operation of what was previously Eastern Contracting. The transaction has a total value of around £3 million deferred cash consideration, which includes work in progress, assets, debtors and goodwill. SSE's Chief Executive Ian Marchant said: 'Eastern Contracting will complement our existing businesses very well. It has a similar background and business to SEC and, as part of our contracting group, will have significant potential to expand. The acquisition is, therefore, a useful step forward for our contracting business and for SSE as a whole.' The business is based in Bury St Edmunds, with offices in Colchester, Peterborough, and Welwyn and will now trade as Eastern Contracting. Included in the acquisition is its high voltage business based in Bridgend, South Wales. The business being acquired by SSE has an annual turnover of £12 million and employs around 200 staff. The acquisition will expand SSE's contracting group further. It already comprises Southern Electric Contracting (SEC), which also trades as Hydro Contracting in the north of Scotland and SWALEC Contracting in Wales, plus Thermal Transfer, and employs over 3,000 engineers, electricians, pipe fitters and support staff throughout the UK, operating from more than 40 regional offices. SSE's contracting group has four main areas of activity: industrial, commercial and domestic mechanical and electrical contracting; electrical and instrumentation engineering; street and highway lighting; and specialist contracting for the turnkey design, build and refurbishment of facilities requiring a 'controlled' environment. For Further information contact: Alan Young Director of Corporate Communications 0870 900 0410 Denis Kerby IR and Media Relations Manager 0870 900 0410 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

Companies

SSE (SSE)
UK 100