CSR America acquires Florida concrete business

CSR America, Inc.(CSRA) has further strengthened its position as the leading constructionmaterials company in Florida with the bolt-on acquisition of a concrete andconcrete block business in western Florida.

The Mid-Coast ConcreteCompany has three concrete plants and two concrete block plants in the northernmarkets of the Tampa Bay metropolitan area, which is the most highly populatedarea of the state. Growth rates in thisnorthern market have been, and are expected to remain, above the state average.

Mid-Coast Concreteis the leading producer of concrete block and the number two concrete supplierin the northern Tampa Bay area, including the counties of Pasco andCitrus. Previously, CSRA had noconcrete or block assets in these counties.

The acquisition willfill a major gap in CSRA’s ability to service the Greater Tampa Bay market, andwill significantly enhance its market position.

The Mid-Coastacquisition is part of CSRA’s ongoing strategy of expanding throughvalue-creating, bolt-on acquisitions across the US.It builds on CSRA’s US$348 million acquisition in August 2000of Florida Crushed Stone, a major aggregates and cement producer based inBrooksville, in the northern Tampa Bay area. FCS extended CSRA’s “footprint” into mid-western Florida.

The Mid-Coastbusiness is also expected to benefit from high levels of infrastructureactivity in Florida over the next few years, including the US$216 billionfederal transport infrastructure program, TEA-21. In addition, road funding in Florida is being further enhanced byGovernor Bush’s $6 Billion 10 year Mobility 2000 initiative.

The acquisition isexpected to generate substantial synergies with CSRA’s existing business and isprojected to be earning above its cost of capital in the first full year ofoperation.