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AGM Statement

23rd Sep 2011 07:00

RNS Number : 7906O
WYG Plc
23 September 2011
 



23 September 2011

WYG plc

("WYG" or "Company")

AGM Statement

WYG, the global project management and technical consultancy, will hold its Annual General Meeting in Leeds later today. At the meeting Mike McTighe, the Chairman of the Company, will give the following update on trading and developments:

"I am pleased to report that the overall trading performance of WYG to date in the current financial year has been in line with the Board's expectations as at the time of the share placing in June. As expected, trading conditions remain very challenging in the UK. There are some encouraging signs regarding activity levels but these remain relatively modest and markets in the UK generally remain subdued and highly competitive. We continue toexpect these subdued conditions to be offset by increased activity in specific areas of UK public spending where we have a strong historical position. For example, we have started work in support of the Defence Infrastructure Organisation on two of the MOD's largest estate programmes, including Germany Rebasing, details of which were announced by Dr Liam Fox to the House of Commons in July, and the procurement of the Next Generation Estates Contracts. We are also seeing a number of major development projects come back on line, which were put on hold in 2010 during the Strategic Defence and Security Review, and increasing activity under the framework agreement we have with the Ministry of Justice.

 

We continue to exploit a strong pipeline of international opportunities and believe that the prospects for international growth around a five city strategy (namely Warsaw, Ankara, Moscow, Abu Dhabi and Shanghai) remain good. For instance, we have recently been awarded a contract with a Polish Government agency, which is expected to deliver fees in excess of €10 million over three years, to provide consultancy and training services to companies right across Poland in a drive to help them overcome the negative effects of the economic slowdown.

The recent placing has enabled us to take the steps necessary to create a positive growth environment within the Company. As announced at the time of the placing, we have introduced new incentive arrangements to retain and recruit key staff and we are also seeking to recruit new employees to key positions to address market opportunities both in the UK, particularly in the South East, and also overseas to strengthen ourglobal footprint. We are seeing an increase in the quality and number of applications for new positions.

We are encouraged by the progress being made in reducing the significant legacy costs relating to historical issues arising from the poor professional indemnity insurance history and the sub-optimal property portfolio from which WYG operates in the UK and Ireland. Progress in reducing these costs is slightly ahead of our expectations.

We are maintaining arigorous focus on cash management and the Group's cash position remains in line with the Board's expectations at the time of the placing.

With a significantly improved balance sheet, a well-incentivised senior team and trading as anticipated, the Board believes that the Company is now well positioned to take advantage of growth opportunities."

WYG's interim results for the six months to the end of September 2011 will be announced in early December 2011.

ENDS

WYG plc Tel: 0113 278 7111

Paul Hamer, Chief Executive Officer

David Wilton, Group Finance Director

 

MHP Communications Tel: 020 3128 8100

John Olsen

Katie Hunt

James White

 

Numis Securities Limited Tel: 020 7260 1000

Stuart Skinner (Nominated Adviser)

David Poutney (Corporate Broker)

 

Notes to Editors

 

·; WYG is an AIM listed established international management and technical consultancy to the built and natural environment that works with clients in over 40 countries to help them realise their corporate and project ambitions

 

·; WYG has the expertise for every stage of a project's life-cycle from planning and design to building and completion

 

·; WYG is a top 15 European consultancy and employs over 1,500 people around the world

 

·; WYG has been recognised with several prestigious industry awards including: British Expertise International Award 2011; RoSPA Occupational Health and Safety Gold Medal Award 2011, Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) award 2010; BREEAM (BRE Environmental Assessment Method) Award 2010

 

This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
 
END
 
 
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