Acquisition Completed

THE WEIR GROUP PLC
1 September 1999

                             The Weir Group PLC
                   Acquisition of the Warman Group completed


The Weir Group PLC announces that all outstanding conditions of its proposed 
AUS $460 million acquisition of the Warman International Group, the speciality
pumps business of North Limited of Australia, have now been satisfied.

The formal legal process was completed today (Wednesday, 1st September), and
Warman becomes part of the Weir Group with immediate effect.


For further information please contact:

The Weir Group PLC   Duncan Whyte, Chief Executive  Tel:  [phone]
                     Ian Boyd, Finance Director   
                     Emrys Inker, Public Relations Manager

Warburg Dillon Read  Paul Nicholls                  Tel:  [phone]
                     Stephen Chandler

Maitland Consultancy Charlotte Hamilton             Tel:  [phone]


Warburg Dillon Read, the investment banking division of UBS AG, which is
regulated in the UK by the Financial Services Authority Limited is acting for
The Weir Group PLC and no-one else in connection with the Acquisition and will
not be responsible to any other person for providing the protections afforded
to the customers of Warburg Dillon Read nor for providing advice in relation
to the Acquisition.