8 January 1997: British Aluminium today announced the successful acquisition of CIG Gas Cylinders. CIG Gas Cylinders is a manufacturer of high pressure, aluminium, gas cylinders for fire extinguishers, breathing apparatus, diving equipment, medical and industrial gases and beverage dispensing. The company operates from a single manufacturing facility located in Kings Park, Sydney.

The company was formerly a division of BOC Gases Australia Limited.

CIG Gas Cylinders will in future trade as Luxfer Gas Cylinders, a division of British Aluminium Australia Pty Ltd. Luxfer is the leading world-wide producer of high pressure gas cylinders, operating from two manufacturing facilities in the UK and three plants in the USA. CIG has had a strong relationship with Luxfer for twenty years, and has operated under a sales & marketing and technology licensing agreement with Luxfer.

Ian McKinnon, Chief Executive of British Aluminium commented: “Luxfer is an important core business for British Aluminium, with strong market positions in Europe and North America. This acquisition gives us an important manufacturing presence in the fast growing Asia-Pacific Region and strengthens our position as the World’s leading producer of high pressure gas cylinders. It also confirms our commitment to develop British Aluminium into a major international engineering business supplying high added value materials and components to world markets.”

Brian Purves, Finance Director of British Aluminium commented: “CIG Gas Cylinders is already a successful business with sales growing from 10,000 cylinders in 1975 to 250,000 last year. It has a reputation for quality products and innovative working practices. With its presence in the key markets of Japan, Korea and Australia, it is a valuable addition to our portfolio.”

For enquiries, please contact: Bob Bailey, Director of Corporate Development, British Aluminium Limited at The Victoria, Harbour City, Salford Quays, Manchester, M5 2SP, UK. Telephone: 0161 911 8813. Fax: 0161 911 8894

Notes for Editors

1.CIG Gas Cylinders is British Aluminium’s first acquisition.

2.British Aluminium was formed in February 1996 when a Management Buy-in acquired the downstream operations of Alcan in the UK. It has a turnover of about £530 mio and employs 4000 people, with manufacturing operations in the UK and USA.

3.British Aluminium is a group of engineering companies that supply materials and semi-finished components to a wide range of end-use markets. In 1996 90% of its earnings came from internationally diverse, high added value businesses with strong market positions. These include the processing of zirconium and magnesium, the manufacture of specialist aluminium alloys and components for the aerospace, defence and general engineering markets, as well as the manufacture of high pressure gas cylinders.

4.Luxfer Gas Cylinders is the world’s leading manufacturer of high pressure gas cylinders with operations in the UK and the USA. The UK operations are at Colwick, near Nottingham and Aldridge in Staffordshire; The USA operations are at Riverside and Placentia in California and Graham, North Carolina. Luxfer currently produces 3 million cylinders pa.

5.CIG Gas Cylinders formerly operated as a division of BOC Gases Australia. It has been a licensee of Luxfer technology for twenty years. It had a turnover of A$40 million in 1996, producing over 250,000 cylinders. Two-thirds of its output is exported to the Asia Pacific region, with Japan being its largest export market. It employs 110 people at its manufacturing plant at Kings Park, Sydney, Australia.

6.The company will operate under the name of Luxfer Gas Cylinders, Australia.

7.British Aluminium’s Head Office is at the Victoria Building, Salford Quays in Manchester.