RPS Group Limited is a global professional services firm of consultants and service providers, headquartered in Abingdon-on-Thames, England. It was 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 2014 RPS Group acquired CgMs Consulting, a consultant company specialising in obtaining significant planning permission in green belt areas.[6]
In August 2022, WSP Global made a takeover offer to purchase RPS Group for £591 million.[7][8][9] In September 2022, RPS received a counter takeover offer from Tetra Tech for £636 million[10] with WSP opting not to increase its bid.[11] RPS' shareholders voted to accept the Tetra Tech offer in November 2022[12] and it was approved by the court in January 2023.[13]
External links
References
- Results for the Year Ended 31 December 2021 RPS Group, retrieved 9 August 2022^
- This is our story RPS Group, retrieved 9 August 2022^
- Corporate factsheet RPS Group^
- 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^
- Into the big time New Cilvil Engineer, 1 March 2003, retrieved 9 November 2022^
- RPS acquires heritage specialist CgMs Planning Resource, 14 August 2014, retrieved 15 December 2024^
- Grant Prior. WSP to buy consultant RPS Group for £591m Construction Enquirer, 9 August 2022, retrieved 9 August 2022^
- RPS board backs WSP takeover offer The Construction Index, 9 August 2022, retrieved 9 August 2022^
- WSP agrees deals to buy out RPS New Civil Engineer 9 August 2022^
- Grant Prior. US consultant trumps WSP bid for RPS Group Construction Enquirer, 26 September 2022, retrieved 26 September 2022^
- Grant Prior. WSP declines to enter bidding war for RPS Group Construction Enquirer, 11 October 2022, retrieved 11 October 2022^
- Results of Court Meeting and General Meeting RPS Group 3 November 2022^
- 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^