RPS Group

This article is about the British company. For other groups named RPS, see RPS (disambiguation).
RPS Group Limited
FormerlyRural Planning Services
Company typeLimited company
IndustryEnvironmental consulting, Upstream Oil and Gas and Renewable Energy consulting
Founded1970
HeadquartersAbingdon-on-Thames, England
Key people
Ken Lever (Chairman)
John Douglas (CEO)
RevenueIncrease £560.4 million (2021)[1]
Increase £28.3 million (2021)[1]
Increase £5.9 million (2021)[1]
Number of employees
5,000 (2022)[2]
ParentTetra Tech, Inc.
Websitewww.rpsgroup.com

RPS Group Limited is a global professional services firm of consultants and service providers, headquartered in Abingdon-on-Thames, England. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange until it was acquired by Tetra Tech in January 2023.

History

RPS was founded in 1970, as Rural Planning Services,[3] with founder Michael Boddington as its first chief executive.[4] It was first listed on the London Stock Exchange in 1987.[3]

In the late 20th century, the company expanded under the leadership of a later chief executive, Alan Hearne, and in 2001 he received the Financial Times / London Stock Exchange Entrepreneur of the Year award and company was nominated in the top four for PLC of the Year in the same awards.[5]

In August 2022, WSP Global made a takeover offer to purchase RPS Group for £591 million.[6][7][8] In September 2022, RPS received a counter takeover offer from Tetra Tech for £636 million[9] with WSP opting not to increase its bid.[10] RPS' shareholders voted to accept the Tetra Tech offer in November 2022[11] and it was approved by the court in January 2023.[12]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Results for the Year Ended 31 December 2021" (PDF). RPS Group. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
  2. ^ "This is our story". RPS Group. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
  3. ^ a b Corporate factsheet RPS Group
  4. ^ Hearne A.S. (1977) The Impact of Major New Roads on Agriculture: Economic and Procedural Aspects, PhD Thesis at the University of Aston in Birmingham, see acknowledgements and Ch8, p 191, Introduction, 1.1: A S Hearne is the CEO of RPS Group plc; Edwards, Angela & Alan Rogers (1974) Agricultural Resources: An Introduction to the Farming Industry of the United Kingdom, London, Faber and Faber, see list of Contributors and Ch 11 pp245-268 and Ch12 pp 269-292; Economic Forestry Group (November 1973) Newsletter Forestry House, Great Milton, Oxford OX9 7PG
  5. ^ "Into the big time". New Cilvil Engineer. 1 March 2003. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  6. ^ Prior, Grant (9 August 2022). "WSP to buy consultant RPS Group for £591m". Construction Enquirer. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
  7. ^ "RPS board backs WSP takeover offer". The Construction Index. 9 August 2022. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
  8. ^ WSP agrees deals to buy out RPS New Civil Engineer 9 August 2022
  9. ^ Prior, Grant (26 September 2022). "US consultant trumps WSP bid for RPS Group". Construction Enquirer. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
  10. ^ Prior, Grant (11 October 2022). "WSP declines to enter bidding war for RPS Group". Construction Enquirer. Retrieved 11 October 2022.
  11. ^ Results of Court Meeting and General Meeting RPS Group 3 November 2022
  12. ^ "RPS Group Says High Court Of Justice In England And Wales Has Sanctioned Scheme Pursuant To Acquisition". Reuters. 19 January 2023. Retrieved 20 January 2023.