As part of its ongoing investor relations programme, BPB is today holding a seminar for analysts and institutional investors to provide further information about the group’s operations. At the seminar, the main themes senior management will present on will be:

• Updating investors about the group’s strategic direction, re-emphasising its intention to focus future investment on growing its core businesses of plasterboard, plasterboard systems and gypsum plasters to build further on its global leadership position.
• Highlighting the growth characteristics of BPB’s core plasterboard business and its strategy of focusing future investment to support anticipated market growth. Plasterboard usage in both established and emerging markets is continuing to grow ahead of GDP growth as it replaces more traditional building products.
• Providing further detail to investors regarding its commitment to achieving worldwide annual cost savings equivalent to more than 1% of group turnover.

At the seminar, BPB will confirm that its views on the trading outlook for the first half of the current year, and for the full year, have not changed from the sentiment expressed in its trading update for the six months to 30 September 2003 announced on 18 September 2003.

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


• The group’s interim results and dividend for the six months to 30 September 2003 will be announced on 21 November 2003.