WATT Wt Batterymetal

RNS No 8399m
WATTS BLAKE BEARNE & COMPANY PLC
30th October 1997

WATTS, BLAKE, BEARNE & CO PLC : NEW JOINT VENTURE IN CHINA
Initial Investment of $1.4m to produce blended ball clays for Chinese Ceramics
Industry

Watts, Blake Bearne & Co PLC ("WBB"), one of the world's leading suppliers of
ball clay and other raw materials for the ceramics industry, announces a new
joint venture in China, producing blended ball clay products for the Chinese
ceramics industry.

WBB will have a majority shareholding in a newly formed company to be called
WBB Jianbei Ceramic Raw Materials Limited.  WBB's Chinese partner is the
Jianbei (Group) Company Limited.  Jianbei manufactures sanitaryware and tiles
in the Qingyuan area of Guangdong province, and has extensive knowledge of the
ceramic raw materials available in the region.

WBB will make an initial investment of US$1.4 million in cash.  Raw materials
will be extracted from the large ball clay deposits in the Qingyuan area.  The
region has long been recognised as a major source of plastic clay in China. 
The major reserves of clay will support the new venture for many years to
come.

The new operation will commence production of ball clay blends specially
formulated for the manufacture of sanitaryware and electrical porcelain.  The
range of products will be extended progressively to include other ceramic
applications.

Joint venture documents were signed at a ceremony in Qingyuan on 28th October,
and the Business Licence for the venture is expected to be issued shortly. 
Mining is expected to commence early next year, with the new blended clay
products available in the second quarter of 1998.

Commenting on the new joint venture, Graham Lawson, Chief Executive of WBB
said: "China is on the verge of becoming the largest ceramics market in the
world within the next five years.  The Qingyuan region's major reserves of
plastic clays should support the new venture for many years ahead".

Enquiries:

Robert Archer             OR      Steve Carreck
General Manager                   Publicity Manager
WBB Pacific Clays Ltd             WBB & Co. PLC
Tel : +65 538 0355                Tel : 01626 332345


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