Oldcastle Glass^® Acquires Southwest Aluminum Systems, Inc.

Santa Monica, CA. – March 12, 2003 – Oldcastle Glass^® is pleased to announce the acquisition of Southwest Aluminum Systems, Inc., a leading manufacturer of custom architectural aluminum storefront glazing systems in the Southwestern United States. Oldcastle Glass^® is the largest independent supplier of architectural glass products and services, with 41 operating locations throughout North America.

Oldcastle Glass^® established Oldcastle Architectural Systems (OAS) in September, 2002 to bring focus to existing growth opportunities in the architectural aluminum glazing systems market, a market it participates in through its offering of all glass entrance doors and Stackwall^® structural glass walls. In conjunction with the creation of OAS, Oldcastle Glass^® acquired Brite Vue^® Glass Systems, a brand with a long established history in the architectural community for high quality glazing systems products. OAS manufactures and sells Brite Vue^® through its new manufacturing facility in Tracy, California.

Southwest Aluminum, with its offering of 16 aluminum storefront glazing systems, supported by advanced computer controlled machining equipment and internal wet paint line, simultaneously adds high volume production capacity and significantly broadens the product portfolio of OAS. Additionally, the acquisition provides OAS with an immediate, leading regional presence in the Southwestern United States.

“Southwest Aluminum represents an excellent fit with Oldcastle Glass”, said Ted Hathaway, CEO, Oldcastle Glass^®. “Both companies share a keen focus on providing our customers quality products and unmatched service. Additionally, Southwest Aluminum offers Oldcastle Glass a solid foundation for expanding the capabilities, product offerings and geographic reach of Oldcastle Architectural Systems. In time, this acquisition will enable us to provide an impressive array of value-added, branded products and services that incorporate both advanced glass products and leading-edge aluminum glazing systems to the architectural and building communities.”

Kurt Popkins will be the General Manager of Southwest Aluminum which is located in Chandler, Arizona. Kurt co-founded the business with his father and other members of his family in 1982 to provide a local source for storefront aluminum products in the Phoenix market. Since its inception, Southwest Aluminum has grown to become the market leader for these products in its regional market. “Oldcastle Glass provides Southwest Aluminum with new capabilities and resources to draw upon. This will strengthen Southwest Aluminum as we look for ways to enhance our product offerings and further improve service levels”, said Kurt Popkins.

Oldcastle Glass^® has a strong reputation for its quality service as well as many innovative glass products featured in some of the most high profile architectural installations in North America. Among them are the Getty Center, the LAX Gateway, the Mary Baker Eddy Library in Boston, The Hawaii Convention Center and the 2002 Olympic Torch in Salt Lake City. Oldcastle Glass^® is a U.S. subsidiary of CRH plc, a leading international building materials and products company based in Dublin, Ireland.

For additional information please contact:
Susan Trimble: Director of Corporate Communications