“Johnson Bateman is a premier company with a great reputation and the acquisition gives Hanson entry into the southern California market,” said Sue Tanenbaum, Hanson’s Western region president. “Southern California’s growth for the past five years has been approximately 35 percent higher than the U.S. as a whole and this acquisition is a fantastic opportunity to service that growth.”

“The acquisition of Johnson Bateman also produces synergies with our current operations in California, which includes our facilities in Sacramento and Bakersfield,” said Tanenbaum. “This is a geographically complementary operation that will benefit our customers throughout the state of California.”

More than 60 Johnson Bateman employees will become Hanson employees and will also have opportunities for further training and advancement.

“Hanson shares the same values and vision as Johnson Bateman and we are pleased to be chosen to be a part of such an industry leader. We know that Hanson will position Johnson Bateman to take advantage of California’s record growth,” said Lawrence Johnson, Johnson Bateman president.

Johnson Bateman Company has been operating in California for nearly 50 years and has been privately owned and operated since the company’s founding. In addition to producing concrete pipe, Johnson Bateman also manufactures its own pipe fittings that are used in projects throughout southern California.

The Johnson Bateman facility will be part of Hanson Pipe & Precast’s Western region based in Portland, Ore. The region services Arizona, California, Oregon, Utah and Washington out of 11 facilities that produce several products, including those used for community and roadway development such as reinforced concrete pipe, drainage structures, bridge systems and precast vaults.

About Hanson Building Products North America
Hanson Building Products North America, a division of Hanson PLC, is comprised of Hanson Brick & Tile, Hanson Pipe & Precast, Hanson Structural Precast and Hanson Pavers Products. Hanson Brick & Tile is North America’s largest brick manufacturer and the third largest manufacturer of concrete roof tile in the United States. Hanson Pipe & Precast is a manufacturer of concrete pipe; precast concrete products including manholes, drainage structures, box culverts, bridge components, retaining walls and concrete block; and steel and concrete pressure pipe. Hanson Structural Precast produces products used in stairways, bridges and parking structures. Hanson Pavers produces decorative concrete pavers for residential and commercial building. For more information, please visit www.hansonbrick.com, www.hansonrooftile.com, www.hansonpipeandprecast.com, www.hansonpipeandprecast.com/structural and www.hansonpaverproducts.com.

Hanson Building Products North America has grown and prospered into an organization of more than 7,800 employees and 150 plants with products available throughout the U.S. and Canada. To learn more about Hanson’s quality products, services and building technology, please visit www.hanson.biz.

About Hanson PLC
Hanson is one of the world's largest suppliers of heavy building materials to the construction industry, with turnover in 2006 of £4.1bn. Our products fall into two categories: "aggregates" (crushed rock, sand and gravel, ready-mixed concrete, asphalt- and cement-related products), and "building products" (concrete pipes, pre-cast products, concrete pavers, blocks, tiles and clay bricks). We employ 26,000 people, operating primarily in North America, the UK and Australia with further operations in Asia Pacific and continental Europe.

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