Acquisition
30 Oktober 2003 - 3:26PM
UK Regulatory
RNS Number:4962R
Rok property solutions PLC
30 October 2003
Date: 30 October 2003
On behalf of: Rok property solutions plc ("Rok")
For immediate release
Rok property solutions plc
Rok Announces Strategic Acquisition
Rok property solutions plc, the listed property solutions group, today announced
a strategic acquisition that significantly expands the Group's geographical
presence in the UK.
In line with the Group's strategy of expanding across Northern England, Wales
and Scotland, the Group has agreed to acquire the Manchester, Glasgow, Teesside,
Cardiff and Ellesmere Port assets and certain contracts from Nick Edwards and
Nick Dargan of Deloitte & Touche LLP, the joint administrators of Ballast PLC.
The new regional offices bring the number of local outlets around the UK from
which Rok operates from 15 to 20.
Rok is paying up to #2.0 million in cash for certain assets and construction
contracts and the consideration is dependent upon the novation of the
construction contracts. Rok is not inheriting historical liabilities other than
those associated with the contracts. The maximum value of the net assets to be
acquired at 15 October 2003 was #7.5 million. The contracts being novated are
entirely construction related and, dependent upon novation, would add a maximum
of #48 million of sales to Rok's current order book. The contracts generated a
gross profit of #0.5 million in the year ended 31 December 2002.
Commenting on the acquisition, Garvis Snook, Chief Executive of Rok, said:
"We are delighted to have secured this acquisition for the Group. It represents
a major strategic stride for Rok in achieving its goal of offering its unique
develop, build, maintain property solutions across the length and breadth of the
UK.
"We have demonstrated our ability to transform underperforming businesses with
strong regional presence by empowering local teams linked by a corporate culture
through our acquisition of businesses such as Llewellyn. The trade and assets
we have agreed to acquire from Deloitte & Touche have a strong presence in
sectors such as social housing where we can leverage our existing expertise to
extend the Rok brand into new areas in the UK."
Enquiries to:
Rok property solutions plc Tel: 01293 649 400
Garvis Snook, Chief Executive
Ashley Martin, Group Finance Director
Redleaf Communications Tel: 020 7955 1410
Emma Kane
Nick Lambert
Notes to Editors
* Rok is not acquiring any of the PFI contracts, Southern
UK construction operations, or any of services businesses of Ballast in
the UK.
* Rok is fully listed on the London Stock Exchange.
* Rok was founded in 1939 and joined the Official List in 1988.
* Rok's principal activities are to develop, build and
maintain specially tailored solutions to meet each client's specific
property needs.
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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