Rothschild has helped BPB, the UK building materials company, to secure the $345m (€395m) acquisition of James Hardie Gypsum and Western Mining & Minerals from their Australian parent after 12 months of talks.

BPB's purchase of James Hardie Industries' US wallboard businesses, gives BPB an important foothold in the US, bringing to 16% its market share in the US internal linings market. Rothschild acted as sole financial adviser to BPB on the acquisition, and JP Morgan advised James Hardie.