Choctaw acquires New Orleans Cement Products

<%=company1%>, a leading Memphis based drainage products business, announced it has acquired New Orleans Cement Products Co., Inc., (NOCP), in a move which will reinforce Choctaw's strong market position in the south-central US.

Choctaw, owned by Australian building products company Amatek Limited through its wholly owned subsidiary Rocla Industries Limited, manufactures concrete pipe and related concrete drainage products, and corrugated steel pipe. NOCP, established in 1932, is the foremost producer of concrete pipe and related concrete drainage products in eastern Louisiana. With the addition of NOCP's manufacturing facility, Choctaw now operates 13 plants in five states: Arkansas, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana.

Choctaw's President, William L. Quinlen, said, "The acquisition of NOCP is a continuation of Rocla's US market strategy to build strong regional nuclei. As one of the most successful concrete products producers in Louisiana, NOCP will fit well with Choctaw's existing operations along the Mississippi and Alabama Gulf Coast."

"I am pleased Oliver Delery, Jr. will remain as President of NOCP. I look forward to working very closely with Mr. Delery to ensure the swift integration of Choctaw and NOCP. The consolidation of these two companies presents a great opportunity to profit from the synergy resulting from their combined manufacturing and distribution capabilities, which will greatly enhance customer reach and service."

For further information, please contact:
William L. Quinlen, President Choctaw, Inc. phone: 901 346 1400, extension 115 or: 800 238 5294, extension 115

Oliver Delery, Jr. President, New Orleans Cement Products Co., Inc (NOCP)

Mr. Delery, 43, was appointed President of NOCP in 1989. He was Chairman of the American Concrete Pipe Association in 1989-90 and remains very active on the ACPA's Technical Committee. Mr. Delery is a Professional Engineer registered in Louisiana, Texas and Mississippi, and is Vice Chairman of ASTM Subcommittee C-13.02. He graduated with a BS in Civil Engineering from Tulane University in 1977, and serves on the Tulane School of Engineering Board of Advisers. Mr. Delery's late grandfather, Claude J. Kelly, established NOCP in 1932.

Amatek Limited

• Amatek Limited is a focused building products company with operations in Australia and the United States.
  
• Companies owned by Amatek include Rocla Industries, comprising the several Rocla businesses, Choctaw and Stramit; Laminex; and, Insulation Solutions.
  
• The Amatek group has an annual turnover of approximately US$ 650 million.

Rocla Industries Limited (RIL)

• RIL is a leading Australian-based building and construction products company engaged in the design, manufacture and distribution of a broad range of concrete construction products and metal building products.
  
• RIL operates 69 manufacturing facilities in Australia, 15 in the USA and 3 in Asia, which are supported by extensive distribution networks.
  
• Products are sold to the residential, non-residential and civil engineering construction markets throughout Australia, the USA and Asia.
  
• Businesses owned by RIL in the USA include Choctaw, Inc. and Rocla Concrete Tie, Inc. RIL's Australian businesses include Rocla Pipeline Products, Rocla Pavers & Masonry, Rocla Quarry Products and Stramit Metal Building Products. RIL businesses in Asia include PT Rocla Persada Indonesia and Stramit Metal Building Products.