Acquisition

CRH PLC
2 May 2002


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                                                                     May 2, 2002

CRH ACQUIRES MAJOR CONCRETE PAVING AND LANDSCAPE WALLING MANUFACTURER IN GERMANY

CRH plc, the international building materials group, announces the purchase by
its Europe Products & Distribution Division of the EHL Group for a cash
consideration, including assumed debt, of euro 155.4 million. Goodwill arising
on the transaction is estimated at euro 8.3 million.

The EHL Group is the market leader in concrete paving and landscape walling
products operating a comprehensive network of 32 modern production facilities in
Germany and one in Poland.

Despite difficult economic circumstances in Germany in recent years and the
prolonged severe downturn in the construction sector following the
post-unification boom, EHL has achieved consistent profitability largely due to
the fact that 65% of turnover is derived from the repair, maintenance and
improvement (RMI) sector. In the year ended December 31, 2001, the company
attained sales of euro 235.4 million on which adjusted EBITDA of euro 26.4
million was reported. Adjusted trading profit (EBIT) amounted to euro 14.6
million.

EHL employs 1,350 people. The senior management team led by Chief Executive Mr.
Bernhard Ehl will continue to operate the business as part of CRH's Europe
Products & Distribution Division's concrete products group headed by Mr. Mairtin
Clarke.

EHL's activities mirror the fast-growing and very successful concrete paving and
landscape walling operations in our US Architectural Products Group. It
represents a significant addition to the concrete products group in Europe which
currently has operations in the Netherlands, Belgium, France and the United
Kingdom. The acquisition brings total annualised sales for that group to circa
euro 700 million.

Commenting on the acquisition, Brian Hill, Group Managing Director - CRH Europe
Products & Distribution, said:

'With its strong focus on the RMI sector, EHL complements CRH's existing
operations in the Benelux and should serve as a platform for further growth in
Germany and in the surrounding countries. We expect that EHL's broad product
range and strong marketing, logistics and product development will allow us to
generate substantial efficiencies and synergies.'

Contact : [phone]

Liam O'Mahony, Chief Executive
Harry Sheridan, Finance Director
Myles Lee, General Manager - Finance


CRH plc, Belgard Castle, Clondalkin, Dublin 22, Ireland TELEPHONE [phone]
                               FAX [phone]
E-MAIL [e-mail] WEBSITE www.crh.com Registered Office, 42 Fitzwilliam Square,
                               Dublin 2, Ireland


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