FORM 6-K
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Pursuant to Rule 13a
- 16 or 15d - 16 of
The Securities and Exchange Act of 1934
For the Month of November, 2002
HANSON PLC
1 Grosvenor Place, London, SW1X 7JH, England
[Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover Form 20-F or Form 40F.]
Form 20-F X Form 40-F
[Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.]
Yes No X
November 29, 2002
Hanson
announces European bolt-on acquisitions totalling £47.7 million
Hanson PLC, the international building materials company, through its European division, Hanson Building Materials Europe ('HBME'), has completed five bolt-on acquisitions totalling £47.7 million.
The
acquisitions, which all occurred in the second half of 2002, bring four
additional quarries in Spain and further
UK production outlets for concrete products, clay bricks and bagged aggregates. They are in
addition to two quarries which HBME added to its operations in the Czech Republic in
May.
Commenting
on the acquisitions, Alan Murray, chief executive of Hanson PLC, said: "These
transactions illustrate our
objective of growth via bolt-on acquisition in our core markets and products.
Bolt-ons play a vital role in building market share, creating operating
efficiencies and broadening our customer offering. A key part of our strategy is
to use our strong cash flow and balance sheet capacity to support further
similar investments."
Summary of the acquisitions:
UK - Hanson Building Products
Concrete products
Hanson Concrete Products has strengthened its position in the UK concrete
flooring market with the acquisition of Marshalls Flooring from Marshalls PLC.
Marshalls
Flooring, which is based at Hoveringham in Nottinghamshire, had an annual
turnover of £17.6 million in 2001 and is a major manufacturer of concrete beam
and block flooring, hollowcore flooring and stairs. It broadens Hanson's
existing range and adds the market leading Jetfloor brand to its portfolio.
In a
separate transaction, Hanson Concrete Products has become the UK's largest
supplier of bagged building materials with the acquisition of the
privately-owned Small Lots (Mix-It) Ltd.
Mix-It gives
Hanson more production facilities and improved geographical coverage to meet
growing demand for bagged materials in both the builders' merchant and retail
consumer markets. Based at Burton Latimer, near Kettering, Northamptonshire,
Mix-It has 13 bagging operations throughout England and Wales and
generates an annual turnover of approximately £27 million. Hanson's existing
packed products and hard landscaping business operates from a site at Nuneaton in
Warwickshire.
Bricks
Hanson Brick, the UK's second
largest brick manufacturer, has acquired a soft mud brick factory at Measham in
Leicestershire from the Red Bank Manufacturing Company.
Soft mud or
stock bricks are increasingly popular with housebuilders and represent
approximately a third of total UK brick sales. In addition to the Red Bank
factory, Hanson manufactures soft mud bricks
at three factories in the south east of England. It also
imports soft mud products under the Desimpel brand name. With production of
around 17 million bricks p.a. and capacity to increase output, Red Bank provides
Hanson with a stronger position in this growing market.
Spain - Hanson Hispania
Hanson
Hispania, which is the largest producer of aggregates in Spain, has acquired two
limestone quarries near Madrid and two sand and gravel operations near
Valladolid.
The Madrid construction
aggregates market is the largest in Spain. The El Hoyon and Basalt limestone quarries are to the south east of the Spanish
capital and have a combined production of approximately 1.5 million tonnes p.a.
They have around 20 years of planned mineral reserves, with the potential for
extensions in the future. By doubling Hanson's production in this market, the
acquisition helps to consolidate Hanson's position among the market leaders in Madrid.
Hanson has
also bought the Aridos Sanz and Rodisan sand and gravel quarries, strategically
located for the buoyant Valladolid market in north west Spain. The
quarries, which produce approximately one million tonnes p.a., have planned
mineral reserves of approximately 30 million tonnes, with the potential for extensions in the future, and provide
Hanson with a leading position in this market.
Further information about
Hanson can be found at www.hansonplc.com
Inquiries:
Justin Read
David Weeks
Hanson PLC
Hanson Building Materials Europe
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7245 1245
Tel: + 44 (0) 1454 332795
Notes:
END
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorised.
HANSON PLC
By:
/s/ Graham Dransfield
Date: November 29, 2002