RPS GROUP PLC ("RPS" or "the Group") 2007 has begun well for RPS and the Board anticipates publishing good results for the first half of the year. Since the beginning of the year we have completed three acquisitions in our Energy business for a maximum consideration of £10.84 million:

APA based in Canada (1 February), SARP in Australia (15 March) and Geocon in the UK (29 March). These businesses all operate internationally and reinforce the momentum and reputation we already have in this market.

The opportunities in the UK and Ireland for our Planning and Development businesses remain good. The Planning and Energy White Papers published this week by the UK Government put in place a framework to bring forward more transport and energy infrastructure projects. The recent five year plan in Ireland sets out a programme for major investment in infrastructure. These policies are likely to be beneficial for RPS. We are also making encouraging progress in this sector in Australia. Within Environmental Management our water and nuclear safety businesses have performed well and our business in the Netherlands looks likely to benefit from the continued improvement in the economy.

A number of our activities are beginning to benefit from heightened concern about climate change. In particular, securing the permissions, licenses and consents which enable the construction of capital projects now requires an understanding of the likely greenhouse gas emissions of proposed schemes. Developers also need to ensure attempts have been made to reduce those emissions through appropriate site selection and layout, building design and access arrangements. Once constructed, there is greater focus upon the environmental and energy management of facilities and the health and safety of people. These trends play to the strengths of our Planning and Development and Environmental Management businesses and complement our work in the Energy sector for oil and gas and renewable energy producers.

The Board is encouraged by progress so far this year and, as energy and environmental issues become more important, remains confident about prospects for the full year.

RPS is an international consultancy providing advice upon the development of natural resources, land and property, the management of the environment and the health and safety of people.  We trade in the UK, Ireland, the Netherlands, Poland, North America and Australia and undertake projects in many other parts of the world.