RNS Number:6523S
McAlpine (Alfred) PLC
01 December 2003

                           Prime Success for McAlpine


Alfred McAlpine plc (McAlpine) has today announced that its Business Services
operation is involved in preferred bidder negotiations to deliver maintenance
and refurbishment services as part of the MoD's Prime Contract for the
south-west.

McAlpine has been appointed as a core services provider by Debut Services, the
Babcock and Bovis consortium. A successful outcome to the MoD's negotiations
with Debut will lead to the award of the #500m seven-year contract for capital
and maintenance works on 120 MoD properties in the south-west, a deal worth in
excess of #100m to McAlpine.

Ian Grice, McAlpine's chief executive said: 

" We are focused on developing long-term maintenance and FM contracts in our 
Business Services operation. We entered the public sector maintenance market 
through the acquisition of Inframan in 2002 and this win is testament to our 
growing capability in the defence sector."

Business Services managing director Bill Allan said: 

" We always seek out partnerships with innovative organisations. Debut have put 
together some great proposals and Defence Estates have responded very well. It 
is a great opportunity for us to take our growing public sector reputation 
forward as we all develop a positive long term relationship providing mutual 
benefits and delivering better value for money for the defence estate in the 
South West."



Notes to Editors

  * Debut, comprising Bovis Lend Lease Ltd and Babcock International Group,
    is the Prime Contractor and will be responsible for capital works and
    property maintenance at more than 120 MOD sites throughout the South West
    region encompassing the counties of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset, Avon,
    parts of Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Hampshire. The contract will run for
    an initial seven-year period with options to extend to 10 years subject to
    the satisfactory performance of the contractor and is expected to be worth
    in excess of #500m.

  * McAlpine is now a service business focused on the built environment. It
    employs 8000 people and operates through three principal business streams:

      * Business Services - which focuses on facilities and asset management,
        information systems, and workplace advisory services.

      * Capital Projects - which focuses on construction and civil
        engineering services.

      * Infrastructure Services - which focuses on utilities and highways
        maintenance and renewal.

  * Each business stream accounts for approximately one third of the
    company's sales (#768m in 2002).

  * McAlpine has restructured its business over the last two years, moving
    out of house-building (it sold its homes business to Wimpey in 2001) and
    making seven acquisitions to establish its Infrastructure Services and
    Business Services operations.



Date: 1 December 2003
For further information contact:

Alfred McAlpine PLC                           www.mcalpineplc.com
Ian Grice, Chief Executive                    020 7930 6255
Bill Loch, Communications Director

City Profile
Simon Courtenay                               020 7448 3244



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