HOWDEN PUMPS BECOMING LEADING FORCE IN THE LOCAL PUMP MARKET

HOWDEN AFRICA HOLDINGS LIMITED, THE SPECIALIST AIR AND GAS HANDLING GROUP,
TODAY ANNOUNCED THE ACQUISITION OF A CONTROLLING STAKE IN THE BUSINESSES OF THE
PUMPMAKER GROUP OF COMPANIES. THE ACQUISITION REINFORCES THE GROUP'S COMMITMENT
TO BECOME A LOADING FORCE IN THE LOCAL PUMP MARKET.

PUMPMAKER MANUFACTURES AND DISTRIBUTES A COMPREHENSIVE RANGE OF BOREHOLE PUMPS
AND RELATED ACCESSORIES AND HAS DEVELOPED A REPUTATION FOR BEING HIGHLY
COMPETITIVE IN SUPPLYING A RANGE OF QUALITY PRODUCTS INTO THE AGRICULTURAL
MARKET.

"THE PUMPMAKER GROUP OF COMPANIES IS BASED IN BABELEGI, NORTH OF PRETORIA, WITH
BRANCHES COUNTRYWIDE. THE GROUP RECENTLY ESTABLISHED AN EXPORT DIVISION TO
FOCUS ON AREAS NORTH OF OUR BORDERS AND HAS HAD GOOD RESULTS TO DATE. THIS
AUGERS WELL FOR THE GROUP AS IT IS IN LINE WITH THE GROUP'S EXPORT DRIVE."
"THE SYNERGIES THAT EXIST BETWEEN THE PUMPMAKER GROUP OF COMPANIES AND HOWDEN
PUMPS OFFER A NUMBER OF EXCITING OPPORTUNITIES AND SHOULD RESULT IN THE GROUP'S
PUMP BUSINESS DIVISION MAKING SOLID CONTRIBUTIONS TO OVERALL PROFITABILITY"
SAYS SHANE MEYER, ACTING CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF HOWDEN AFRICA.

"THE ACQUISITION SHOULD BECOME ABSOLUTE ON OR ABOUT 26 OCTOBER 1998 SUBJECT TO
CONTRACTUAL TERMS HAVING BEEN FULFILLED" CONCLUDED SHANE MEYER.
ISSUED BY       HOWDEN AFRICA HOLDINGS LIMITED
                TEL: (011) 240-4000
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT

REINA CULLINAN  MARKETING DIRECTOR - JAMES HOWDEN HOLDINGS LIMITED
TEL:(011) 240 4068