25th May 2006 07:00
RPS Group PLC25 May 2006 RPS GROUP PLC ("RPS" or "the Group") Annual General Meeting Statement Trading Update Appointment of new Non-Executive Director As anticipated at the time of the Preliminary Announcement of our 2005 results,2006 has begun well for RPS. A particularly strong performance from our Energybusiness has allowed the Group as a whole to trade above the Board'sexpectations in the first four months of the year. Demand for our Energy services continues to grow. The increasing scale andeffectiveness of this business, following the acquisition of ECL in September2005, has given RPS an excellent market position. This enables us to retainexisting and acquire new high quality clients and projects, as well as providingenhanced career opportunities for our staff in what remains a challengingemployment environment. Our Planning and Development business in the UK and Ireland continues to besupported by major brownfield redevelopment schemes and the provision ofinfrastructure. It has experienced encouraging growth over the same period lastyear. This activity also continues to develop well in Australia. OurEnvironmental Management business continues to benefit from improved tradingconditions in the Netherlands as well as sustained activity in the provision ofnetwork management support to the UK water industry. The Board is also pleased to announce the appointment of John Bennett, ACA,(aged 58) as an additional Non Executive Director, with effect from 1 June 2006. John is a Chartered Accountant with 30 years' experience in the house buildingindustry. For the last 13 years he was Finance Director of Westbury plc, untilit was acquired earlier this year. He has wide experience of financialmanagement, capital and debt raising, acquisitions and investor relations and heplayed a leading role in the strategic development of Westbury into a top tenvolume house builder in the UK. No other information is required to bedisclosed under paragraphs 9.6.13 of the listing rules of the UK ListingAuthority. Brook Land, Chairman of RPS Group plc, commented: "The strong growth from Energy and good performance in our other two businesseshas resulted in the Group exceeding our expectations for the first four monthsof the year. The Board consequently anticipates that 2006 will see RPS makefurther significant progress. "I am delighted to welcome John Bennett to the Board. His appointment willfurther strengthen our complement of non-executive directors. He understandsour business, having been Finance Director at Westbury plc, one of our long termclients." 25 May 2006 EnquiresRPS Group plc 01235 863 206Alan HearneGary Young College Hill 020 7457 2020Justine WarrenMatthew Smallwood RPS is an international consultancy providing advice upon the development ofnatural resources, land and property, the management of the environment and thehealth and safety of people. We trade in the UK, Ireland, the Netherlands,North America and Australia and undertake projects in many other parts of theworld. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
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