Acquisition

Christie Group PLC 18 January 2005 Christie Group plc completes acquisition of West London Estates and names David Larkin as Chairman of Pinders Christie Group plc announced that Pinders today completed the purchase of West London Estates (WLE). WLE is a Reading-based firm of Chartered Building Surveyors providing a range of services to a cross section of corporate, private and public sector clients. The company had net assets of £265,000 at 31 October 2004. The addition of WLE to Pinders' existing team of Building Surveyors and Project Managers will serve to accelerate the Company's growth by broadening its national client base and increasing the opportunities to target larger and more varied work. Following renegotiation of the terms of third party financing referred to in the 2004 interim accounts, Group borrowings were reduced by a net £2.4 million with a commensurate exceptional credit. After the acquisition of WLE the Group's bank borrowings will total approximately £2.5 million. *** In further news Christie Group plc today also announced that Mr David J W Larkin has accepted an invitation to become Chairman of its subsidiary, Pinders, the UK's leading independent business appraisal company. Mr Larkin, who will take up the part-time role with immediate effect, takes up the newly created position following a distinguished 29-year career in property with Jones Lang Wootton, now Jones Lang LaSalle, a global leader in the delivery of real estate professional services. His senior executive roles included International Director and Chairman of Jones Lang LaSalle Insurance Services, Chairman of Asset Management business group, and Member of Jones Lang Wootton Finance and Administration Committee, which managed the firm's global business interests and the financial management of its European operation. He has been involved in many significant property transactions and developments, including Canary Wharf and Victoria Plaza in London, and Exchange Square and Pacific Place in Hong Kong. Aged 56, he is a Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. He also serves as Chairman of the Investor's Committee for the Property Income Trust for Charities. 'We are delighted that David will be taking up the chairman's role in Pinders,' said Christie Group CEO David Rugg. 'His experience will be invaluable as we expand Pinders' leadership position and realise its full potential.' Ends 18 January 2005 Contact Christie Group plc Philip Gwyn (Chairman) David Rugg (CEO) Robert Zenker (Finance Director) all on +44 20 7227 0707 Brunswick Group LLP Ash Spiegelberg +44 20 7396 5319 Notes to Editors Christie Group plc is a business services and software group with three business divisions: Professional Business Services, Software Solutions; and Stock and Inventory Services. The three complementary businesses focus on the leisure, retail and care markets. Christie Group has 30 offices across Europe - located in the UK as well as in Belgium, France, Germany, Italy and Spain, and 1 office in Canada. Pinders is a subsidiary of the Christie Group focused on valuations, consultancy, building survey, project management and professional services for a broad range of clients in the leisure, retail and care sectors. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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