AECI Limited - Company Press Release

AECI Limited - Company Press Release                                            
AECI LIMITED                                                                    
Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa                                    
(Registration No. 1924/002590/06)                                               
Share code:  AFE    ISIN No. ZAE000000220                                       
PRESS RELEASE                                                                   
Chemical Services Limited (Chemserve) has reached agreement for the acquisition 
of two separate businesses, for a combined consideration of about R150 million. 
The companies concerned are those of UAP, comprising UAP Crop Care (Pty) Limited
and UAP Agrochemicals KwaZulu-Natal (Pty) Limited; and Chemiphos (Pty) Limited. 
UAP is a distributor of agricultural chemicals, focusing on the Western Cape and
KwaZulu-Natal. Chemserve, through its subsidiary Plaaskem (Pty) Limited, wishes 
to increase its capacity to supply specialist products and services to the      
agricultural industry and believes that UAP will provide an excellent platform  
for further growth in this market.                                              
Chemiphos manufactures and supplies specialist polyphosphoric acid to catalyst  
manufacturers, and food grade phosphoric acid to the food and beverage industry.
It also distributes products for a number of international principals. The      
company meets Chemserve"s criteria for a specialist niche business with a high  
service component.                                                              
Both transactions are subject to competition authority approval. The effective  
dates of the transactions are expected to be 1 January 2005 for UAP and 1 March 
2005 for Chemiphos.                                                             
Chemserve is a wholly-owned subsidiary of AECI Limited.                         
Enquiries:                                                                      
Frank Baker                                                                     
Managing director                                                               
Chemical Services Limited                                                       
Tel: 011 548 4610                                                               
Fax: 011 388 2465                                                               
Cell: 083 255 7069                                                              
Email: frank.baker@chemserve.co.za                                              
Date: 06/12/2004 10:53:11 AM Supplied by www.sharenet.co.za                     
Produced by the JSE SENS Department