RNS Number:8041N
Hanson PLC
22 July 2003



July 22, 2003



Hanson announces sale of Texas and Arkansas ready-mixed concrete operations,
completes Better Materials aggregates acquisition and updates on other corporate
development activity



*         $77 million sale of Texas/Arkansas ready-mixed concrete operations
completed in July

*         $149 million Better Materials acquisition completed in July

*         $48 million (#30m) first half 2003 bolt-on acquisition spend

*         $125.4 million North Texas Cement disposal completed in January and
Australian cement joint-venture in June

*         Second half activity to date includes contract to acquire Wagner
Quarries and completion of US asset exchange



Hanson PLC, the international building materials company, has sold its
ready-mixed concrete operations in Texas and Arkansas while reinforcing its
position in its key US aggregates markets through the completion of the
previously announced Better Materials transaction and other bolt-on acquisitions
and swaps.



Commenting on these transactions, Alan Murray, Chief Executive of Hanson PLC,
said: "Since the beginning of the year, Hanson has completed cement and
ready-mixed concrete disposals in Texas totalling $202 million. In line with our
stated strategy of expanding in our core products and markets, we have
successfully reinvested these proceeds and swapped assets in value-adding
transactions which build-up existing operations, principally in US aggregates.
In addition, the net effect of the transactions completed in the year to date is
to increase Hanson's planned mineral reserves by over 650 million tons."



Hanson has sold the ready-mixed concrete operations in Texas and Arkansas it
acquired with Pioneer International Limited in 2000 to Southern Star Concrete
Inc., a portfolio company of the Texas Growth Fund, for $77 million in cash,
subject to final adjustments. The sale involves 63 active ready-mixed concrete
plants and associated distribution assets which serve the Dallas/Fort Worth and
Houston markets as well as rural markets in East Texas and Central/South
Arkansas. In the six months to June 30, 2003, ready-mixed concrete shipments
from these operations totalled 2.6 million cubic yards and their EBITA
contribution was $1.0 million. The sale does not include Hanson's 50% interest
in Houston based Campbell Concrete and Materials L.P.



This disposal follows the completion in January 2003 of the sale of Hanson's 50%
interest in North Texas Cement Company for $125.4 million in cash. Hanson has no
ambitions to be a major cement producer and will only hold ready-mixed concrete
assets in those markets where it is necessary to provide a secure outlet for its
aggregates production. Hanson will retain its number one position in the Texas
aggregates market and will continue to benefit from an aggregates supply
agreement with the ready-mixed concrete operations.



Hanson's bolt-on acquisition spend in the first half of 2003 has totalled
approximately $48 million (#30m). In North America, acquisitions include a 1.0
million tons p.a. aggregates quarry in Cincinnati, Ohio and a 0.7 million tons
p.a. aggregates quarry in London, Kentucky. In addition, in Australia Hanson has
acquired two aggregates and ready-mixed concrete operations in Western Australia
and, as part of the new Cement Australia Pty Ltd joint-venture, has acquired
three aggregates operations in Melbourne and south east Queensland and
ready-mixed concrete operations on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland from
Queensland Cement Ltd (QCL).



Cement Australia Pty Ltd was formed in June this year when Rinker Group Ltd,
Hanson Australia and Holcim Ltd merged their Australian cement businesses,
Australian Cement Holdings (ACH) and QCL. Rinker and Hanson each owned 50% of
ACH while QCL was wholly owned by Holcim. Following the merger, Hanson and
Rinker retain a 25% interest in Cement Australia with Holcim owning the
remaining 50%.



Since the end of June, Hanson has completed its previously announced acquisition
of US aggregates producer, Better Materials Corporation. Costing $149 million in
cash, plus working capital adjustments and the assumption of $3 million in debt,
Better Materials will increase Hanson's aggregates position in Pennsylvania and
provide a new presence in New Jersey. In the year to December 31, 2002, Better
Materials shipped 9.4 million tons of aggregates and 1.8 million tons of
asphalt.



In addition to the above, since the end of the first half Hanson has signed a
contract to acquire the business of Wagner Quarries Company, an independent
company which owns a c.3 million tons p.a. limestone quarry in northern Ohio.
Located to the west of Cleveland, Wagner represents a bolt-on to Hanson's
existing operations in Ohio.



In July, Hanson has also completed an asset exchange with Oldcastle Materials,
Inc., a subsidiary of CRH plc, whereby Hanson has transferred seven rural
quarries in Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee and Michigan for assets which include
five quarries which complement Hanson's existing northern Indiana and northern
Ohio operations.



The fundamentals of Hanson's strategy are clear. With its focus on its core
products and markets, Hanson will continue to make value-adding bolt-on
acquisitions while securing the mineral reserves necessary for long-term growth
and the creation of shareholder value.



Inquiries:        Justin Read
                  Hanson PLC
                  Tel: +44 (0)20 7245 1245



Notes:

1.       Hanson is the largest producer of aggregates and concrete pipe &
products in the world and is the third largest producer of ready-mixed concrete.
Its other principal product is bricks and its operations are in North America,
the UK, continental Europe, Australia and Asia Pacific.

2.       Hanson operates an e-mail distribution service for press releases and
other corporate information. Registration for this service, which includes
e-mail alerts two days prior to results announcements and publication of company
reports, is via its website (www.hansonplc.com).

3.       High-resolution Hanson images are available to download from the media
centre on Hanson's website and from www.newscast.co.uk.




                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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