Development Strategy Update

CRH PLC
09 January 2003

           D E V E L O P M E N T     S T R A T E G Y     U P D A T E


                                                                 January 9, 2003

                CRH ANNOUNCES DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES TOTALLING
                  EURO 348 MILLION IN THE SECOND HALF OF 2002


CRH plc, the international building materials group, announces a range of
development initiatives totalling euro 348 million undertaken during the second
half of 2002. These initiatives, which are in addition to the EHL and U.S.
Aggregates transactions announced in May and the first-half Development Strategy
Update released in July, bring total development spend for 2002 to approximately
euro 1 billion, of which one-third arises in Europe with the balance in the
Americas.

Commenting on these developments, Liam O'Mahony, CRH Chief Executive, said:

'We are pleased to report the continued success of our well-established
development strategy which has delivered a total of 24 acquisitions and
investments during the second half of 2002. These initiatives will help drive
growth and our ability to service markets across all Divisions of the Group.'


The principal initiatives contained in this Development Strategy Update are:

  • Materials - Europe : euro 21.3 million

    Acquisition of an aggregates and ready-mixed concrete producer in
    Switzerland and a quarry business in the Republic of Ireland.

  • Products & Distribution - Europe : euro 63.8 million

    Four acquisitions in Belgium, the United Kingdom, Estonia and Switzerland in
    combination with the buyout of an insulation joint venture in the
    Netherlands.

  • Materials - The Americas : euro 85.3 million

    Eight add-on acquisitions in New York State, New York City, Montana, Iowa
    and Ohio.

  • Products & Distribution - The Americas : euro 177.2 million

    Seven acquisitions in the Precast, Architectural Products and Distribution
    Groups together with a laminated glass joint venture in the United States
    and an additional 30% stake in a glass fabricator in Chile.


Contact at Dublin 404 1000 ([phone])


Liam O'Mahony Chief Executive

Harry Sheridan Finance Director

Myles Lee General Manager - Finance


                                    ********


                CRH ANNOUNCES DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES TOTALLING
                  EURO 348 MILLION IN THE SECOND HALF OF 2002


CRH plc, the international building materials group, announces a range of
development initiatives totalling euro 348 million undertaken during the second
half of 2002. These initiatives, which are in addition to the EHL and U.S.
Aggregates transactions announced in May and the first-half Development Strategy
Update released in July, bring total development spend for 2002 to approximately
euro 1 billion, of which one-third arises in Europe with the balance in the
Americas.

Materials - Europe : euro 21.3 million

Switzerland

In December, the Division acquired HARD, a producer of aggregates, ready-mixed
concrete and sand-lime bricks located 17 kilometres to the east of Zurich. With
annual sales of euro 11 million, the deal constitutes Jura Materials' first step
into the Zurich marketplace and is in line with its strategy to concentrate
development initiatives in cities exhibiting higher-than-average growth
prospects.

Republic of Ireland

In November, the Roadstone-Wood Group purchased a small stone producer, Allister
Quarries. The transaction provides a high-quality source of aggregates in the
northeast of the country.

The total cost of the two development initiatives undertaken by the Materials -
Europe Division is euro 21.3 million including goodwill of euro 1.3 million.

Products & Distribution - Europe : euro 63.8 million

Concrete Products Group

In August, the Concrete Products Group acquired Douterloigne, a manufacturer of
reinforced hollowcore flooring, concrete pavers and blocks with three production
plants in the north and the west of Belgium and annual sales of euro 19 million.
In addition to affording critical mass to CRH's existing structural concrete
operations in Belgium (Omnidal and Schelfhout), the deal offers strategic
linkages with the EHL Group in Germany and Struyk Verwo in the Netherlands.

Building Products Group

In August, CRH Fencing & Security acquired 74.4% of Geoquip, a leading
manufacturer and supplier of electronic (predominantly fence-mounted) intrusion
detection systems based in Derbyshire in the United Kingdom with annual sales of
euro 6 million. The acquisition further broadens the group's product portfolio
and increases its exposure to the high-growth security sector.

Insulation Group

In October, the Insulation Group bought the outstanding 50% stake in EcoTherm, a
manufacturer of polyurethane insulation products with annual sales of euro 55
million. Operating from production facilities in the Netherlands and the United
Kingdom, EcoTherm provides a strong base for further development to meet
increasingly stringent insulation standards in all European markets.

Also in October, the group purchased Mabo Aumek, a producer of expanded
polystyrene (EPS) in the small Estonian market. The transaction complements
CRH's existing EPS insulation activities in Finland, Sweden and Denmark (which
were acquired in late-2001 through the purchase of ThermiSol) and provides the
opportunity to benefit from continuing developments in building regulations in
the Baltic States.

Distribution Group

In October, Richner (formerly Jura Distribution) purchased BBH Baubedarf
Holding, a builders merchant with annual sales of euro 154 million and 27
branches located in the northeast of Switzerland. In conjunction with the Vicom
Baubedarf transaction announced in the first-half 2002 Development Strategy
Update, this deal provides market leadership in the German-speaking part of the
country, significantly strengthens the geographical coverage of Richner's branch
network and yields additional benefits in terms of purchasing and logistics.

The total cost of the five Products & Distribution - Europe acquisitions is euro
63.8 million, on which goodwill of euro 11.7 million arises.

Materials - The Americas : euro 85.3 million

New York/New Jersey Group

New York State

In August, the Division acquired selected assets of Madison Highway Products
comprising a limestone quarry with 47 million tons of permitted aggregate
reserves, a crushing facility and two asphalt production plants. With annual
sales of euro 7 million, Madison's operations represent an excellent fit with
the Group's existing aggregate and asphalt business in the Syracuse area in
upstate New York.

Tilcon New York (TNY)

In July, Oldcastle Materials purchased ConAgg Recycling Corp., the largest
recycler of concrete-based construction debris and producer of sub-base
aggregate material in New York City, generating annual sales of euro 8 million.
In addition to enlarging TNY's customer base, the acquisition is expected to
give rise to substantial added value from higher volumes and the elimination of
duplicate administrative functions.

The acquisition of Plaza Materials, an aggregate and asphalt supplier with a
small trap rock quarry and three asphalt plants in TNY's market area and annual
sales of euro 9 million, was completed in August. This transaction enhances
TNY's aggregate reserves and asphalt presence in southern New York State.

Western Group

Northwest

In December, the Division acquired NUPAC, a fully integrated construction
materials business based in Kalispell, Montana. With annual sales of euro 8
million and owned aggregate reserves of 17 million tons, the deal provides an
excellent geographic fit with CRH's existing businesses in western Montana.

Iowa

Following the purchase of Hallett Materials and Des Moines Asphalt in August
2001 and the subsequent additions of Nuckolls Concrete Services in January 2002
and Hosteng Concrete and Gravel and J.W. Ready Mix and Construction in June
2002, Oldcastle Materials has completed a number of additional bolt-on deals in
the region. The acquisition of selected ready-mixed concrete assets of Rasmussen
Lumber and A.M. Cohron in western Iowa and two sand and gravel pits at
Emmetsburg and Auburn in northwestern Iowa with 8 million tons of aggregate
reserves represents a continuation of the Division's strategy to establish an
integrated materials business in Iowa. Combined annual sales are euro 6 million.

Central Group

Shelly Group

In August, the Shelly Group acquired Chesterhill Stone Co., one of the largest
aggregates and concrete producers in the rural markets of southeast Ohio and
northcentral West Virginia. With annual sales of euro 27 million and long-term
access to 42 million tons of reserves, the transaction expands Shelly's
geographical position in southeastern Ohio and offers considerable scope for the
realisation of value-adding synergies.

The total cost of the eight deals completed by Materials - The Americas amounts
to euro 85.3 million, on which goodwill of euro 23.4 million arises.

Products & Distribution - The Americas : euro 177.2 million

Precast Group

In August, the Precast Group acquired Christy Concrete Products, a leading
manufacturer of precast concrete and polymer utility boxes in the western United
States. With two production facilities and one distribution depot serving
markets in California, Nevada, Arizona and Oregon and annual sales of euro 23
million, the acquisition increases the Group's exposure to the growing and
attractive utility box segment.

Two acquisitions, Andrew Corporation's Shelter Division and Irving N. Loomis &
Sons, were completed in October. With annual sales of circa euro 13 million,
Andrew's Shelter Division manufactures controlled environment shelters primarily
for sale to wireless telephone companies. Economies of scale will be realised
through the consolidation of shelter production at Andrew's Georgia facility,
thus strengthening the Group's competitive position. The acquisition of Irving
N. Loomis, a concrete pipe manufacturer in northeastern Pennsylvania with annual
sales of euro 4 million, extends the geographic reach of the Group's Pipe
Division into New York State and provides substantial opportunity for the
transfer of best practice initiatives in production and purchasing.

Precast Systems, a leading manufacturer of precast concrete manholes and
drainage products in the high-growth Houston, Texas market with annual sales of
euro 15 million, was acquired in November. Through its long-standing
relationships with highway and civil engineering contractors in the Houston
area, the acquisition complements the Precast Group's existing operations and
provides a strong base for further expansion in the region.

Architectural Products Group (APG)

In October, APG purchased the Cemex Specialty Minerals Group (SMG) with annual
sales of euro 76 million. SMG, which serves markets in the Mid-Atlantic and
northeastern United States from five plants and two distribution outlets in
Massachusetts, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Ohio, sells bagged
decorative stone, palletised and bulk lime, industrial fillers, and other
related products to major national retailers and to commercial and industrial
users. This business, which has since been renamed Oldcastle Stone Products,
provides APG with a major growth platform in the decorative stone and soil
conditioner markets, complementing the existing retail lawn and garden product
offering.

The purchase of SMG was followed in December by the acquisition of Dixie Cut
Stone & Marble. With annual sales of euro 49 million, Dixie manufactures patio
products, bagged decorative stone, architectural limestone, marble and granite
products, and distributes other landscaping and building stone products. In
addition to extending Oldcastle Stone Products' geographic reach into Michigan
and facilitating marketing synergies, the addition of Dixie broadens the product
range thus providing substantial future growth opportunities with national
homecenter and mass merchant chains.

Glass Group

In July, as part of its edge diversification strategy, the Glass Group entered
into a joint venture arrangement with Arpal Aluminium Systems to supply
blast-resistant commercial window and shield systems to various U.S. Government
agencies. The joint venture, which will purchase its laminated glass
requirements from the Glass Group, provides a complementary platform for the
Group's core activities.

Distribution Group

In July, in line with its stated strategy to augment market presence in major
metropolitan areas, Oldcastle Distribution acquired ARZEE Supply, a six-branch
distributor of siding, roofing and related products in northern New Jersey and
New York. With annual sales of euro 75 million, the acquisition provides
increased exposure to the more attractive residential roofing segment and is
anticipated to lead to substantial synergies in the purchasing and logistics
functions.

South America

In August, in accordance with the terms of a buyout option negotiated at the
time of its initial investment in 1999, CRH acquired an additional 30%
shareholding in Vidrios Dell Orto bringing its total stake to 80%. Dell Orto is
the market leader in glass tempering and glass/aluminium distribution in Chile
with annual sales of euro 10 million. This investment positions CRH to benefit
further from a variety of product mix and productivity enhancements undertaken
by Dell Orto management in recent years.

The total cost of the nine acquisitions/investments completed by Products &
Distribution - The Americas amounts to euro 177.2 million including goodwill of
euro 57.5 million.


                                   ** Ends **


  CRH plc, Belgard Castle, Clondalkin, Dublin 22, Ireland TELEPHONE [phone]
                            1000 FAX [phone]

   E-MAIL [e-mail] WEBSITE www.crh.com Registered Office, 42 Fitzwilliam
                           Square, Dublin 2, Ireland


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