Media - Press Release

For Immediate Release
May 7, 2008

Ferguson gift supports VIMS graduate students

NEWPORT NEWS, VA —Ferguson Enterprises of Newport News has pledged $75,000 to the Virginia Institute of Marine Science to support graduate student education and public outreach at the Gloucester Point campus.

The gift was presented by Mr. David Meeker, Deputy General Counsel and Assistant Secretary of Ferguson, and a member of the VIMS Advisory Council.

The gift will be paid over five years, with $12,500 per year used to create an endowment to fund a permanent student fellowship at VIMS, and the remaining $2,500 per year to support the Institute's annual Marine Science Day open house.

Meeker says, "For all of us in Hampton Roads, stewardship of marine resources is vital. That’s why Ferguson is so pleased to support VIMS’ research and education mission through a student fellowship. VIMS students are key to research that helps identify and solve issues facing Chesapeake Bay, and they go on into careers where they will help improve the health of our environment both here in Virginia and around the country. We also recognize the importance of all ages learning about our natural world through events like Marine Science Day."

VIMS Dean and Director John Wells says the gift "addresses one of our greatest student needs, which is fellowship support so that we can continue to draw the best and brightest to VIMS." Admission to the School of Marine Science at VIMS is highly competitive, with the most promising students also being courted by other leading marine science graduate programs around the nation.

Professor Iris Anderson, Dean of Graduate Studies at VIMS, says "This gift will help us level the playing field by offering the possibility of merit-based financial support to prospective students."

Funding to support the Ferguson Graduate Student Fellowship at VIMS will begin in autumn of the 2008-2009 academic year. Fellows will be chosen from the School of Marine Science at VIMS by the VIMS Academic Council based on academic performance and financial need.

The Ferguson gift was made to the Virginia Institute of Marine Science Foundation, a nonprofit 501 (c) (3) organization that supports the education and research missions of VIMS. VIMS is an independent state agency with a mandate to provide research, education, and advisory service to the Commonwealth. The School of Marine Science at VIMS is a graduate school of the College of William and Mary.

Founded in 1953 and headquartered in Newport News, Va., Ferguson is the country's largest wholesale distributor of plumbing supplies; heating and cooling equipment; tools and safety equipment; and fire protection products. Ferguson has sales of $11.1 billion and around 1,400 service centers in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Mexico, and the Caribbean.

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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, 2007 were approximately $31.6 billion. Wolseley has approximately 75,000 employees operating in 27 countries namely: Austria, Barbados, Belgium, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Mexico, Norway, Panama, Poland, Puerto Rico, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Trinidad & Tobago, UK, USA. Wolseley is listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE: WOS) and is in the FTSE 100 index of listed companies. In the U.S., Wolseley trades on the over-the-counter market (OTC) under the symbol WOSLY. 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 billion and around 22,000 associates in over 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, 2007, were approximately $31.6 billion. Wolseley has approximately 75,000 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. In the U.S., Wolseley trades on the over-the-counter market (OTC) under the symbol WOSLY. For more information, visit www.wolseley.com.

Wolseley, 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. Group revenues for the year ended July 31, 2007, were approximately $31.6 billion. Wolseley has approximately 75,000 employees operating in 27 countries. Wolseley is represented in North America by three businesses, Ferguson, Stock Building Supply and Wolseley Canada. Wolseley is listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE: WOS) and is in the FTSE 100 index of listed companies. In the U.S., Wolseley trades on the over-the-counter market (OTC) under the symbol WOSLY. For more information, visit www.wolseley.com.

Stock
Raleigh, NC-based Stock Building Supply is the largest supplier of building materials to professional home builders and contractors in the United States. Stock currently operates 299 locations in 34 states, with reported sales of $4.6 billion for the fiscal year 2007. For more information visit: www.stockbuildingsupply.com.

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