Robinson Regulatory News (RBN)

18 Aug 2005 07:00

Robinson PLC18 August 2005 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 18 August 2005 Robinson plc Acquisition of Polish manufacturing facilities Robinson plc ("Robinson"; stock code: RBN), the custom manufacturer ofpaperboard and plastic packaging, announces the acquisition of a factory site atLodz, 150kms from Warsaw, in Poland for £1.3 million in cash. Lodz, the secondlargest city in Poland, is a major industrial centre for the chemical and foodprocessing industries, with many multinational companies based there. Theintention is to set up state-of-the-art plastic injection moulding facilities toenable Robinson to service its Central European customer base more effectively.The site covers an area of 23,000 square metres in total, of which the factoryaccounts for 12,000 square metres. The factory, which was built in the 1980s,will be progressively redeveloped as business expands over the next 5 years.Robinson anticipates first production from the plant by the first quarter of2006. The Group will receive rental income from existing tenants occupying thesections not initially required. Commenting on the acquisition, Jon Marx, Chief Executive, said: "The accession of many Central European states into the EU has accelerated thegrowth in demand for our products in the region. We targeted Poland because ofits demographic, fiscal and wage structures, as well as its emerging enterpriseculture. There will be additional benefits in terms of our capacity to enhancesupply to Western European customers." - ENDS - About RobinsonBased in Chesterfield, and with additional manufacturing facilities inKirkby-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, and in Toronto, Canada, Robinson currentlyemploys over 400 people. It was formerly a family business, with its originsdating back some 165 years. Today the Company's main activities are in themanufacture and sale of rigid paper packaging and injection moulded plasticpackaging. Robinson operates primarily within the food, drink, confectionery,cosmetic and toiletry sectors, providing niche or custom manufacture to majorplayers in the fast moving consumer goods market, such as Nestle, Lever Fabergeand Whyte & Mackay. The Company also has a substantial property portfolio withsignificant development potential. For further information, please contact: Jon Marx, Chief Executive, Robinson plc 01246 220 022Guy Robinson, Finance Director, Robinson plc 01246 220 022 www.r1son.co.uk Barry Saint, Arbuthnot Securities 020 7012 2000 Michael Padley/Sue Scott Bankside Consultants 020 7367 8888 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange