Basingstoke-based Scott Wilson Group plc, the international consultancy offering integrated professional services in the transportation, property, environment and natural resources sectors, announced this morning that it has reached a conditional agreement to acquire the business of McLay Collier LLP for a goodwill payment of £2.7m. The acquisition is expected to be completed on 25th July 2007.

McLay Collier operates in the property sector in Central Scotland. It was formed from two well-known local partnerships in 1992 and has a track record in housing, retail, health, education and industrial sub-sectors providing services in structural engineering. Based in Glasgow McLay Collier employs 30 technical staff and four Partners.

Geoff French, Chairman of Scott Wilson commented:

I am delighted to announce today that we have acquired McLay Collier LLP. The acquisition is a further step in line with our stated strategy to complement organic growth and will also help to balance the sector portfolio of our Scotland & Ireland Division. McLay Collier bring new resources and experience to meet the Group’s growing demand and will enhance our reputation in the property sector in Central Scotland.

This follows a year of growth for Scott Wilson as they also release their preliminary figures for the year ending April 29th 2007, with the following highlights:

• Record results, on an adjusted basis, lead to 5 successive years of double-digit revenue growth
• Strong organic revenue growth of 18%
• Full year dividend 10% higher than indicated at the time of the IPO reflecting the strength of the Group’s performance
• Four acquisitions completed during the year - all successfully integrated and performing above management expectations
• Gross pension deficit significantly reduced to £12.4m in 2007: (2006: £33.6m)
• 2007/8 off to a good start with a record order book of £257m and two major contract wins: Greece Central Motorway Concession (fees of £13m) and Three Counties Alliance (fees of £8m).
• Two acquisitions since the year end. DCL Consulting Engineers Limited, a building services consultancy based in the South West of England for a total potential consideration of £1.1m and McLay Collier, a property structural engineering consultancy based in Glasgow, announced today for a goodwill payment of £2.7m.

These results demonstrate the Group’s ability to take advantage of the buoyant trading conditions that currently exist in our key markets. The broad range of consultancy services that we have established across multiple sectors has increased our competitive edge and enabled Scott Wilson to achieve annual double-digit organic growth once again.

During the year, we expanded our capability through selective acquisitions, all of which have been successfully integrated into the Group. I am delighted that we have been able to announce a further acquisition today. The broader scope that we now have, together with our improved margins and record order book, means that the Board remains confident in its ability to deliver our strategic objectives and to continue to enhance shareholder value.