Acquisition

Artisan (UK) PLC
4 December 2000

                               Artisan (UK) plc


                      Acquisition of E C Rippon Limited



Artisan (UK) plc, the AIM listed property development and construction group,
announces that as part of the Group's planned continued expansion of its
housebuilding operations, it has exchanged contracts with Ennstone Breedon
Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Ennstone plc, to purchase E.C. Rippon
Limited, the Mansfield, Nottinghamshire-based housebuilding subsidiary of
Ennstone Breedon Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Ennstone plc, for £
10.25 million, subject to completion accounts.


Of the total purchase consideration, £9,000,000 will be payable in cash and £
1.25 million in secured subordinated 10 per cent loan notes issued by Artisan
subject to adjustment by reference to the net asset value of E.C. Rippon as
determined at completion of the acquisition. The acquisition consideration is
being financed from cash reserves and by additional facilities from Bank of
Scotland, Artisan's principal bankers.


The net assets being acquired by Artisan will amount to approximately £10.00
million and represent land and houses under construction. E C Rippon reported
turnover in the twelve months to 31st January 2000 of £12.0 million and
pre-tax profits of £2.0million. This included turnover and profit relating to
the assets of Rippon Estates being retained by the vendor and turnover and
profit on assets relating to non core activities being acquired by Artisan.


In our opinion the turnover as at the last audited accounts of E C Rippon
attributable to the net assets being purchased by Artisan is £11.8million and
the profit before tax is £1.85million (excluding losses of £0.25million
arising from non core activities being acquired by Artisan).


E C Rippon, which trades as Rippon Homes specialises in detached housing and
bungalows with an average sale price of £100,000 per plot and is currently
building some 115 new homes at sites in Mansfield, South Normanton,
Shirebrook, Bilsthorpe and Wellow in Nottinghamshire; Belper and Clay Cross in
Derbyshire, and at Reepham and Kirton in Lindsey, Lincolnshire.


Commenting on the acquisition of Rippon Homes, Mr Stephen Dean, Chairman of
Artisan (UK) said, 'The addition of Rippon to the Group's housebuilding
operations reflects its policy of concentrating on fewer but larger
acquisitions and will make a significant contribution to the Group's earnings
and enhance earnings per share'.

END

Enquiries:

Artisan (UK) plc        01480 436666

Stephen Dean, Chairman

Chris Musselle, Finance Director Mobile [phone]


Boswell City Financial PR Limited   020 7583 2001

Glenda Boswell

Rodney Johnson