Acquisition

Artisan (UK) PLC
29 November 2000

                               Artisan (UK) plc


       Negotiations with Ennstone plc for the purchase of Rippon Homes



Further to our interim announcement on 29 November 2000, Artisan (UK) plc wish
to clarify the following.


Artisan (UK) plc continues to negotiate the acquisition of Rippon Homes from
Ennstone plc. The last audited accounts for E C Rippon disclose turnover of £
12.1 million and profit on ordinary activities of £2.0 million. This included
turnover and profit relating to the assets of Rippon Estates being retained by
the vendor, and turnover and assets relating to non core activities, such
activities being part of the acquisition by Artisan (UK) plc.


In our opinion the turnover as at the last audited accounts of E C Rippon
attributable to the assets being purchased by Artisan (UK) plc is £11.8
million and the profit before tax is £1.85 million (excluding losses of £0.25
million arising from non core activities being acquired by Artisan).