Bunzl Makes Further Acquisitions

01 Feb 2006

Bunzl plc, the international distribution and outsourcing Group, today announces that it has acquired The Midshires Group Limited from a privately owned company, Wychbury Holdings Limited. Midshires, which is based in Shrewsbury with locations also in Wolverhampton, Loughborough and Northampton, is principally engaged in the operation and sale of vending machines and associated services throughout Central England. It had revenue of £11.6 million in the year ended 31 December 2005 and gross assets acquired are estimated to be £8.6 million.

Bunzl also announces the acquisition of Master Craft Packaging Corporation from a privately controlled family trust, the Roseth Family Trust. Based in Fresno, California, Master Craft serves the redistribution and foodservice sectors in California, Oregon and Washington. It had revenue of $10.6 million in the year ended 31 December 2005 and gross assets acquired are estimated to be $3.0 million.

Commenting on the acquisitions, Michael Roney, Chief Executive of Bunzl, said:

"The acquisition of Midshires will significantly increase the overall size of our UK vending business and strengthen our market position in central England. The Master Craft acquisition is a further step in our strategy to grow our redistribution business in the US".

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