BPB announces that it is acquiring the business and assets of Dogan Alci A.S., the second largest producer of building plasters in Turkey with a market share of approximately 20%. Operating from a plant commissioned near Ankara in 1998, the company has grown quickly (achieving sales equivalent to £6.5 million for the year ended 31 December 2000) and now supplies over 200,000 tonnes of plaster to the rapidly growing Turkish construction market.

The acquired business will be developed in partnership with the owner-managers of Dogan Alci which will hold 30% of the shares in BPB's local acquiring company, an existing merchanting operation supplying plasterboard and ceiling tile systems. BPB's cash consideration is equivalent to £4.8 million and completion of the transaction, which is subject to normal closing conditions, is planned for the end of November 2001.

Commenting on the deal, BPB's Chief Executive Richard Cousins said:

"Following our joint venture in Egyptian building plasters announced earlier this year, our acquisition in Turkey provides BPB with another exciting opportunity to develop a growing national market for plasters and fast-track lightweight building systems."

• BPB is a world leader in the supply of plasterboard, plasters, insulation, ceiling tiles and related products for internal linings, serving growing markets for building systems in over 50 countries.


• On 15 February 2001, BPB announced the £7.4 million acquisition of 45% and management control of the Egyptian Gypsum Company, Egypt's leading supplier of building plasters with annual sales of around 350,000 tonnes.


• A group trading update for 2001/02 will be published by BPB on 20 September 2001.