Acquisition

Bunzl PLC
4 May 2001


                                                                    4 May 2001






                BUNZL ACQUIRES OUTSTANDING SHARES IN FILTRATI


Bunzl plc, the international Group supplying business to business consumables,
today announces that it has acquired 51% of Filtrati SpA from Azienda Tabacchi
Italiani SpA and Finmeccanica SpA. This takes Bunzl's ownership of Filtrati to
100%.


Filtrati, which had sales in 2000 of £15.2 million, supplies both cigarette
filters and ink reservoirs from its facilities in Rovereto and Salerno, Italy.
Net assets as at 31 December 2000 were £8.2 million. It has been part of the
worldwide network of Filtrona for more than 30 years.


Commenting on the acquisition, Anthony Habgood, Chairman of Bunzl plc said:


'We are delighted to have been able to purchase the balance of the shares in
Filtrati. This will enable it to become a full member of our global Filtrona
network.'


Enquiries:

Bunzl plc                                          Finsbury

Anthony Habgood, Chairman                          Roland Rudd

David Williams, Finance Director                   Morgan Bone


Tel: [phone]                                 Tel: [phone]