Lou Tocci promoted to GM of Columbia, SC

For Immediate Release
October 10, 2006

The Castle Group joins Wolseley’s North American Division

NEWPORT NEWS, VA. – Wolseley announces the purchase of Florida-based Castle Supply Company, Inc., CastleNorth Corporation and Lawrence Plumbing Supply Company in a series of transactions completed October 2, 2006. Castle Supply and CastleNorth will operate as a combined entity under the name Castle, a Wolseley Company. Lawrence will operate as Lawrence Plumbing Supply Co., a Wolseley Company.

The acquisition of these companies strengthens Wolseley’s position in this high growth US market. With 10 locations and nearly 200 employees, Castle Supply is the market leader in the Tampa Bay Region and was named “2005 Wholesaler of the Year” by Supply House Times Magazine. CastleNorth has 10 locations in the central, eastern and northern regions of Florida and more than 125 employees. Lawrence Plumbing Supply has seven locations in the greater Miami region and 77 employees. The combined operations of the three companies generated $196 million in sales for the 12 months ending September 30, 2006.

Bob Cardwell, current president of Castle Supply, will be responsible for the operation of Castle, a Wolseley Company. “We are bringing together the best of the industry leaders,” explained Cardwell. “With our people, customer relationships, market savvy and nimbleness and Wolseley's buying power, logistics system and proven industry leadership, it will be amazing what we do together to service our customers.”

Joe White, current chairman of Castle Supply, and Bob Stern, current president of CastleNorth will also remain with the company, as will Joe Lawrence, current president of Lawrence Plumbing Supply. “I am extremely happy for our company’s continued success and the additional opportunities afforded to our associates through this acquisition,” explained Lawrence.

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For further information, contact: communications@ferguson.com

Wolseley
Wolseley plc is the world’s largest specialist trade distributor of plumbing and heating products to professional contractors and a leading supplier of building materials in North America, the UK and Continental Europe. Group revenues for the year ended July 31, 2008, were approximately $33.1 billion. Wolseley has approximately 74,000 employees operating in 27 countries. Wolseley is listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE: WOS) and is in the FTSE 100 index of listed companies. For more information, visit www.wolseley.com.

Ferguson
Headquartered in Newport News, Va., Ferguson is the country's largest wholesale distributor of plumbing supplies; pipes, valves and fittings; heating and cooling equipment; waterworks; mechanical and industrial; bathrooms and appliances; tools and safety equipment; and fire protection products. Ferguson has sales of $11.2 billion and approximately 22,000 associates in approximately 1,400 service centers located in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Mexico and the Caribbean. For more information, visit www.ferguson.com.

Ferguson is part of Wolseley plc, the world’s largest specialist trade distributor of plumbing and heating products to professional contractors and a leading supplier of building materials in North America, the UK and Continental Europe. Group revenues for the year ended July 31, 2008, were approximately $33.1 billion. Wolseley has approximately 74,000 employees operating in 27 countries. Wolseley is listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE: WOS) and is in the FTSE 100 index of listed companies. For more information, visit www.wolseley.com.

Wolseley’s North American Division
Wolseley plc is the world’s largest specialist trade distributor of plumbing and heating products to professional contractors and a leading supplier of building materials in North America, the UK and Continental Europe. Wolseley’s North American Division includes Ferguson, Stock Building Supply and Wolseley Canada. Group revenues for the year ended July 31, 2008, were approximately $33.1 billion. Wolseley has approximately 74,000 employees operating in 27 countries. Wolseley is listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE: WOS) and is in the FTSE 100 index of listed companies. For more information, visit www.wolseley.com.

Stock
Raleigh, NC-based Stock Building Supply is a leading supplier of building materials to professional home builders and contractors in the United States. Stock currently operates 285 locations in 34 states, with reported sales of $3.5 billion for the fiscal year 2008. For more information visit: www.stockbuildingsupply.com .

Stock is part of Wolseley plc, the world’s largest specialist trade distributor of plumbing and heating products to professional contractors and a leading supplier of building materials in North America, the UK and Continental Europe. Group revenues for the year ended July 31, 2008, were approximately $33.1 billion. Wolseley has approximately 74,000 employees operating in 27 countries. Wolseley is listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE: WOS) and is in the FTSE 100 index of listed companies.

Wolseley Canada
Wolseley Canada is a market leader in the wholesale distribution of plumbing, heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration, engineered pipe, waterworks, fire protection, pipes, valves and fittings and industrial supplies products. Headquartered in Burlington, Ontario, the company operates over 250 branches across Canada.

Wolseley Canada is a privately held company whose parent company, Wolseley plc, is based in the UK. Publicly traded on the London Stock Exchange, Wolseley is in the FTSE 100 index of listed companies. As the world's largest distributor of plumbing and heating products, Wolseley plc is also a leading supplier of building materials, lumber products, industrial pipes, valves and fittings to the professional market. Globally, the company operates in 27 countries with a total workforce of approximately 74,000 employees.

Wolseley creates enhanced value by leveraging the strengths of our individual businesses, developing our business diversity, and creating innovative solutions to meet our customers’ changing needs.

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