SMC Smc Grp

    RNS Number : 7071J
  SMC Group Plc
  08 December 2008
   

    8th December 2008
    SMC Group Plc

    Proposed name change to Archial Group Plc
    Trading update

    As part of the corporate restructuring and overall harmonisation of the business, SMC Group Plc ("the Company"), the architecture and
design business, announces a proposed name change to Archial Group Plc. 

    The Company is sending a Notice of General Meeting to shareholders to convene a General Meeting for 9.30 am on 5th January 2009 at the
Company's offices, Tennyson House, 2nd Floor, 159-165 Great Portland Street, London, W1W 5PA. The purpose of the meeting is to seek
shareholder approval for the proposed name change. A circular containing a letter from the Chairman explaining the proposal and the Notice
of General Meeting is being sent to shareholders today. A copy of the circular and the Notice of General Meeting is available from the
Company's website at www.smcgroupplc.com.

    The Company's Stock Exchange Ticker will, following shareholder approval of the proposed name change, be changed to 'ARL'.

    Trading update

    Since the beginning of the year the Board has focused on improving the resilience of the business which, together with the flexibility
of the cost base and careful expenditure control, has enabled the Company to maintain a good level of profit generation so far this year, in
the context of the uncertainties in the property and construction marketplace.

    The constant efforts made to improve the defensive and international characteristics of the business have enabled the Company to
maintain a robust level of forward order book, at circa �50m. Total estimated fees secured since the beginning of September amount to
approximately �11m which is commensurate with previously reported figures for the new instructions of �7.5 to �8m every two months. Moreover
the composition of this future order book has improved since 30 June with a further increase in the proportion of future revenue derived
from publicly funded work from 31% to 38%.

    The Company is also pleased to report the strong growth and expansion of its operations in Asia, the Middle East and North America,
which now account for 17% of the forward order book (compared with 13% as at 30 June). The Board believes that these markets offer
significant future growth potential for the Company.

    A representative list of new instructions that have been received by the Company in the UK and overseas since August on new and ongoing
projects includes:

    Aberdeen - Corporate oil industry training facility
    Abu Dhabi - Sports village project
    Bedford - NHS Hospital alteration project
    Cambridge - School project
    Dubai - Residential mixed use development project
    Hyderabad - Second phase residential project
    Kuala Lumpur - Three retail projects
    Malvern - Health care facility
    Midlands - Three master-plan mixed use projects and major retail development
    Great Yarmouth and Canterbury - Two Further Education college facilities
    London - Magistrates court project
    North East Scotland - Affordable housing sites
    MOD - Two projects in South England and one International
    Southend, Nottingham and Suffolk - Three leisure pool projects
    Toronto - Two new underground stations
    West Lothian - Community centre
    Zhaibei (PRC) - Major retail project

    As a result, the Directors are confident in the Group's current performance and are pleased to report that at the end of November,
approximately 65% of the Company's anticipated fee income for 2009 has been secured which is comparable with the visibility of 70% on fees
for 2008 recorded at the end of January 2008.

    Whilst the Directors continue to monitor the current economic situation, they remain confident for the future due to the Group's high
visibility of revenues, strong forward order book in place, diverse client-base and sector and geographical spread.

    - Ends - 

    For further information, please contact:
      
 SMC Group Plc                                        Tel: +44 (0)20 7580 0400
 Chris Littlemore/Rob Boardman

 Numis Securities Limited                             Tel: +44 (0)20 7260 1000
 Nominated adviser: Stuart Skinner/Brent Nabbs
 Corporate broking: James Serjeant

 Financial Dynamics                                   Tel: +44 (0)20 7831 3113
 Billy Clegg/Caroline Stewart/Alex Beagley


This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
 
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