RNS Number:0254M
McAlpine (Alfred) PLC
06 June 2003

                                Alfred McAlpine

                          Announces the Acquisition of

                              AIMS Group Services



Introduction

Alfred McAlpine PLC ("McAlpine") is pleased to announce that it has acquired the
entire Ordinary Share capital of AIMS Group Services Ltd (AIMS), a specialist
advisory, training and technical services business focused on workplace
compliance issues, for #7.2m (#5.9m in cash and 507,300 new Alfred McAlpine
ordinary shares). In addition McAlpine has settled debt funding in AIMS of #5.9m
and may subsequently pay further consideration of #0.8m. The newly acquired
business will be integrated into McAlpine Business Services alongside Stiell
Facilities, Stiell Networks and AMPL.



Background and Reasons for the Acquisition

In the past two years, workplace compliance has become a major issue for many
clients as the regulatory environment becomes complex and the penalties for
non-compliance become increasingly onerous. Key areas include Health & Safety,
Fire Safety, Disability Assessment, Environmental Issues, Asbestos Risk
Evaluation, Water Hygiene, Construction Safety Advice and Data Management.

AIMS was identified as a high quality company with the requisite skill and
customer base following a thorough evaluation of the market and the key
capabilities required. AIMS has a number of specific strengths and competitive
advantages:

  * As a profitable, medium-sized compliance consultancy, it delivers a broad
    range of specialist compliance services providing a single point of service
    for clients
  * It operates nationally, with approximately 120 consultants possessing a
    wide range of experience and excellent skills in the regulatory compliance
    market.
  * It has a strong corporate customer base, including Sainsbury's, Safeway
    and LandSecurities, that will dovetail neatly with McAlpine's existing
    corporate clients
  * Its 'TrackRecord' compliance management system is recognised as an
    industry leader
  * It has a strong, entrepreneurial management team already successful in
    market-driven product and service development
  * Its culture and business objectives for development and growth align well
    with McAlpine's stated strategy of developing a complete service to major
    clients

AIMS will work within McAlpine Business Services on opportunities both to expand
the range of services to clients and to develop the company's outsourced
compliance management services. These services will meet the increasingly
complex compliance requirements of major clients by providing management
services, through three to five year term contracts, thus adding to McAlpine's
stable, long-term earnings base.



Information on AIMS

AIMS had a turnover in the year to 31 March 2003 of #11m generating an operating
profit of #1.6m and a Pre-tax Profit of #1.2m before amortisation of goodwill
and exceptional items. Tangible net assets acquired in the transaction are
#1.1m.

In its first full year AIMS is expected to enhance McAlpine's earnings, before
amortisation of goodwill, and earn in excess of McAlpine's cost of capital. It
will provide significant opportunities for McAlpine to expand its service
offering into their current corporate and retail markets. The acquisition will
continue McAlpine' stated strategy to develop and strengthen its higher "added
value" professional services and further develop closer links with its clients.

                                    - ends -

Date : 06 June 2003

For further information contact :
Alfred McAlpine PLC
Oliver Whitehead, Chief Executive                           020 7930 6255
Ian Grice, Chief Executive Designate
Jeffrey Hume, Finance Director
www.alfred-mcalpine.com


City Profile                                                020 7448 3244
Jonathan Gillen
Simon Courtenay
simon.courtenay@city-profile.com







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