Acquisition

CRH PLC
20 March 2008

NEWS  RELEASE

20 March 2008



CRH SIGNS CONTRACT FOR ACQUISITION OF 50% EQUITY STAKE IN MY HOME INDUSTRIES
LIMITED, INDIA



CRH plc, the international building materials group, announces that it has
signed an agreement to acquire a 50% shareholding in My Home Industries Limited
('MHIL'), a privately-owned cement company with its head office in Hyderabad,
India. CRH's total investment will be €290 million. CRH and the existing owners
will jointly manage MHIL and both parties will have equal Board and management
representation. The transaction is expected to be completed during the second
quarter of 2008.



MHIL's operations consist of three cement production units at Mellacheruvu
village in central Andhra Pradesh with a separate grinding plant under
construction near Vishakapatnam on the coast of Andhra Pradesh.  Current annual
cement production capacity is 3.2 million tonnes, which will increase to 4.2
million tonnes on completion of the grinding plant in early 2009.  MHIL has
strong market positions in central and eastern Andhra Pradesh and completion of
the grinding plant will strengthen its position in these markets. Overall MHIL
is the number two supplier to the 15 million tonnes Andhra Pradesh market.



Commenting on the development, Liam O'Mahony, CRH Chief Executive, said:

'MHIL is one of the most modern cement producers in India with excellent
reserves and a strong management team and is a market leader in the dynamic
Andhra Pradesh market.  As a first investment in India, we are delighted to be
associated with such a strong company and look forward to developing the
business with our partner as the Indian economy expands.'



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






                      This information is provided by RNS
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