ARL.L Regulatory News (ARL)

20 Mar 2006 07:03

SMC Group Plc20 March 2006 20 March 2006 For immediate release SMC Group Plc ("SMC" or "the Company") Press Speculation SMC notes the article in the weekend press concerning the Company's possibleacquisition of the business of Alsop Design Limited. SMC confirms that it is indiscussions with Alsop Design Limited which may or may not lead to the Companyacquiring this business. For further information please contact: SMC Group Plc Tel: 44 (0) 20 7495 5335Stewart McColl Noble & Company Limited Tel: 44 (0) 20 7763 2200Matthew Hall Bell Pottinger Corporate & Financial Tel: 44 (0) 20 7861 3232David Rydell/Geoff Callow Notes to Editors SMC Group Plc is the holding company for a group of architects and designers.It has established expertise in a broad range of sectors, including residential,retail, industrial, workplace, transportation, leisure and education. On 3February 2006 the Group announced the acquisition of Ian Penrose Architects andCovell Matthews Architects. These additions to the Group have enabled SMC toexpand its national coverage throughout England, with offices in London,Warwick, Manchester, Leeds, Birmingham, Liverpool, Lancaster, Exeter, Plymouthand Cambridge. The Group's core strategy is to create an architectural group with the scale andexpertise to access the most profitable schemes across a range of sectors andgeographical 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 complement this organic growth withearnings-enhancing acquisitions in order to consolidate its geographic andsector coverage. On 5 September 2005 the Group announced its maiden interim results for the sixmonths ended 30th June 2005. SMC reported turnover of £5.4m (an increase of 47%compared to the same period in 2004) and profit before tax of £1.1m (an increaseof 110% compared to the same period in 2004). In that announcement the Groupannounced its intentions to introduce a maiden dividend in June 2006. Full yearresults to 31 December 2005 are scheduled to be announced on 27 April 2006. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange