Annual General Meeting Statement

RNS Number : 5129T

CVS Group plc

14 December 2012

 



For Immediate Release

14 December 2012

CVS Group plc

("CVS" or the "Company")

Annual General Meeting Statement

CVS, one of the UK's leading providers of veterinary services, is holding its AGM at 11:00am today at which Richard Connell, Chairman, will provide the following update to shareholders:

"The Board is pleased to announce that momentum from the Group's e-commerce activities and loyalty scheme membership continues to drive our like for like sales growth, which for the 5 month period ended 30 November 2012 was +4.5% compared to the same period last year. Profitability for that trading period is in line with the Board's expectation.

It is also pleasing to report further acquisition activity since 30 June 2012, with the purchase of 5 surgeries to our practice division and a small, but strategically important, crematorium acquisition. The aggregate historic annualised turnover of these businesses has been £3 million generating an EBITDA of £0.2 million.

All of these acquisitions provide a good operational and geographical fit with the Group's existing locations.

In total the Group now operates 237 surgeries, 6 diagnostic laboratories, and 2 pet crematoria across the UK, together with an online dispensary and remains the largest operator in a highly fragmented market.

The Board has decided to adopt the following additional corporate governance measures which it believes are appropriate for a company of the size CVS has grown to:

The Board will appoint an additional non-executive director which will strengthen the composition of the Board. It is intended that this new non-executive director will also be appointed as chairman of the Remuneration Committee, enabling David Timmins, the current chairman of the Remuneration Committee, to continue his valuable work focused on chairing the Audit Committee. The search for a suitable candidate will start with immediate effect.

In addition, the Board has also agreed that at future Annual General Meetings ("AGMs") all directors will stand for re-election annually and the tenure of non-executive directors will be limited at nine years, to continue to ensure an appropriate mix of experience and independence on the Board.

We will also invite shareholders to approve the remuneration report set out in the Company's Annual Report at future AGMs."

Contacts:

CVS Group plc

Simon Innes, Chief Executive

Paul Coxon, Finance Director

01379 644 288

Buchanan

Richard Oldworth

Louise Hadcocks

020 7466 5000

N+1 Singer

Graeme Summers

Aubrey Powell

020 7496 3000

 

END

 

 

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