ARL.L Regulatory News (ARL)

13 Nov 2006 07:01

SMC Group Plc13 November 2006 SMC Group Plc ('SMC' or the 'Group') New contract wins SMC Group Plc, the architects and design business, is pleased to issue detailstoday of the construction value and new fees contracted since its previousannouncement in July 2006. The following are some of the projects contributingto a total construction value of over £2.35bn and represent stage fees for SMCin excess of £31m to be earned over the next few years, including constructionvalues (£1.48bn) and stage fees (£22m) secured as a result of the acquisition offour businesses in Scotland (Davis Duncan Architects, Hugh Martin Architects,Jenkins & Marr and Parr Architects) and the Midlands based Hickton MadeleyArchitects, all on the 22nd September 2006. These contract wins underpin the management's positive view on the Group'strading position and also their confidence on the outlook for the future. Mixed Use Developments • £40m Cordwell Property, Yorkshire • £50m Croydon 20/20 Vision, masterplanning in Croydon • £40m Confidential project, North East of England Offices/Office Parks • £40m Opus Developments, IBM Site, Warwick • £21m Saxan Securities, Office Development • £3.5m Wrenbridge, Colwyn House, Colchester • £16.5m CEG, Harrogate • £5m Lunn Ventures, Seacroft, Leeds Healthcare • £30m Bluestone, North West LIFT Initiative • £4m Mistal, ABI Unit & GP Surgery plus Residential, Newcastle Industrial/Distribution • £6.2m Wrenbridge Land, Royston, Kings Warren 1 and 2 • £9.2m Confidential Client, Blackburn and Mountheath • £10m Reed Boardall, Bar lane, Boroughbridge Residential • £7m Richardson Cordwell, Millennium View, Coventry • £7m HMS Collingwood Accommodation • £13m SDC Builders, Bedford • £8.6m Housing, Plymouth, Exmouth, Somerset, Tavistock and throughout Devon generally Retail • £2m Food Stores, Falmouth and Plymouth • £10m Confidential Client, Retail Store Extensions Government Buildings/Ecclesiastical/Courts/Custodial • £10m North West Estates, Ipswich County & Magistrates Courts • £200m Civic Building, Midlands • £1m Listed Church refurbishment, Aberdeen Education • £100m University Student Accommodation, confidential • £20m City College, Norwich • £22m Dundee College, Development of Gardyne Road Campus • £7m Student Accommodation, Exeter Leisure/Hospitality/Sports and Leisure • £3.9m Alfred McAlpine Capital Projects, Ramada Hotel, NEC Birmingham • £5m Classic Lodges, Hotels x 2, Stratford and Kanturk • £50m The Pinnacle Leisure/Hotel/Residential/Retail/Attraction, Birmingham • £20m Confidential Exhibition Centre, North East of England New business continues to be generated in many different sectors across the UK.International work continues to flow into SMC Alsop in the Far East and NorthAmerica although the company remains selective about the contracts it pursues. - ends - For further information please contact: SMC Group Plc Tel: +44 (0)20 7495 5335Stewart McColl Numis Securities Tel: +44 (0)20 7776 1500Michael Rowan/Emma Tod Bell Pottinger Corporate & Financial Tel: +44 (0)20 7861 3232David Rydell/Geoff Callow/Chris Hamilton Notes to Editors SMC Group Plc is the holding company for a group of architects and designers. Ithas established expertise in a broad range of sectors, including residential,retail, industrial, workplace, transportation, leisure and education. On the 22nd September 2006, the Group announced the acquisition of fivebusinesses, four of which are based in Scotland and one in the Midlands. InScotland the Group formed SMC Scotland comprising Davis Duncan Architects, HughMartin Architects, Jenkins & Marr and Parr Architects with offices in towns andcities such as Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Dundee, Dingwall, Birmingham andNewcastle, and in the Midlands, Hickton Madeley Architects represented inBirmingham and Telford. The Group therefore became immediately the largestarchitecture business in Scotland and, according to the AJ (Architects Journal28th September 2006) also the largest architecture business in the UK. The Company's core strategy is to create an architectural group with the scaleand expertise to access the most profitable schemes across a range of sectorsand geographical locations. The Group intends to focus on its organic growth,increasing its share of the UK market and securing larger, higher marginprojects. The Group plans to continue to complement this organic growth withearnings-enhancing acquisitions in order to consolidate it's geographic and sector coverage. On 30th August 2006 the Group announced interim figures for the six months ended30th June 2006, showing that turnover had grown by 108% to £11.5m, profit beforetax grown by 42% to £1.6m and EBITDA increased by 77% to £2.6m. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange