CONSTRUCTION materials company CRH has announced further expansion involving £30.5 million on acquisitions and capital investment in 1996. This is on top of the £405 million previously announced, bringing the total to £435.5 million for last year, by far the largest expansion in one year.

CRH, said finance director Mr Harry Sheridan, had 12 development teams looking for acquisitions. These, he added, should lead to annual acquisitions of between £100 million and £300 million.

The latest expansion represents a continuation of the group's strategy of mid sized deals which further strengthen existing market positions in our core businesses", said chief executive Mr Don Godson. The bulk of the previously unreported expansion, involving £25.5 million, has been in mainland Europe, while £5 million has been spent in North America.

The focus in mainland Europe has been on France and the Netherlands. It has acquired an 11 per cent stake in Samse, a publicly quoted builders merchant located in the Rhone Alpes region, for £3.5 million. Samse, which operates 49 builders merchants and 17 DIY stores, generated a trading profit of £5.3 million on sales of £178 million.

Some £11 million has been spent on opening new GAMMA DIY stores and Bouwmaat cash and carry outlets in the Netherlands. In November, it acquired Brakel Beheer and Kleiwarenfabrick Echt in the Netherlands for £11 million. Brakel, which manufactures glass rooflight structures, generates annual sales of £13 million. CRH said this takeover complements its existing operation in this sector. Sales by its rooflight group now top £30 million.

CRH's Oldcastle Pre cast group acquired Synertech Moulded Products in Canada for £3 million and certain assets of John Iafolla Company in New Hampshire, lord £2 million.