Acquisition

CRH PLC
13 March 2008


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13 March 2008


CRH REACHES AGREEMENT TO ACQUIRE MAJOR US CONCRETE PRODUCTS BUSINESS

CRH plc, the international building materials group, announced today that it has
reached agreement to acquire the Pavestone Group LP for an upfront cash
consideration, including debt assumed,  of US$540 million (euro 348 million),
plus deferred consideration contingent on future increases in profitability.
Completion of the transaction is subject to the granting of the required
regulatory approvals.

Pavestone is headquartered in Dallas, Texas and operates a national network of
18 concrete paver plants at 16 locations across the United States. In addition
it has decorative stone bagging plants at 14 of these locations. The group
currently employs 1,300 people across its operations. Approximately 70% of
Pavestone's sales are in the retail homecenter channel, with the remaining sales
split evenly between the commercial and distributor channels. Adjusted EBITDA
for 2007 amounted to approximately US$65 million on sales of US$368 million.

Pavestone's operations complement the existing retail business of CRH's
Architectural Products Group (APG), which operates from 30 paver plants and 11
bagging plants in 37 states, with good opportunities for synergies.  Acquisition
of Pavestone offers APG a broader national footprint in concrete landscaping
products (pavers, retaining wall products and patio products, collectively
described as hardscapes) and bagged stone with excellent modern production
facilities and an experienced workforce.

In a comment, CRH Chief Executive Liam O'Mahony said 'The proposed acquisition
of Pavestone represents an opportunity to build on our success in developing APG
into the leading North American supplier of multiple landscaping products,
enabling profitable growth and an improved ability to service our core
professional and DIY hardscape markets.'


Contact CRH at Dublin 404 1000 ([phone])
Liam O'Mahony, Chief Executive
Myles Lee, Finance Director
Eimear O'Flynn, Head of Investor Relations
Maeve Carton, Group Controller

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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