AGM Statement
January 15 2004 - 6:20AM
UK Regulatory
RNS Number:2707U
NordAnglia Education PLC
15 January 2004
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 15 January 2004
NORD ANGLIA EDUCATION PLC
CHAIRMAN'S AGM STATEMENT
Nord Anglia Education PLC ("Nord Anglia" or the "Company"), the education and
training company (LSE:NAE) London, UK, 15 January 2004. At the Annual General
Meeting held today, all resolutions were passed.
During the meeting, the Chairman, Kevin McNeany made the following statement:
" I am pleased to report the Company's continued progress in line with the
Board's expectations for the present year. A good start has been made in all
three of the Company's business areas: Schools, Nurseries and Outsourcing.
Earlier this week we announced the disposal of Hull Grammar School to the Church
Schools Company (CSCo) for a cash consideration of #4.18m which is 2.3 times
greater than the carrying value of its assets and represents an exit PER of
nearly 21 times earnings.
The Board's commitment to the development of its schools business in the UK and
overseas is undiminished by this deal. CSCo intends to merge Hull Grammar
Schools with the competitor Hull High School (which it owns) and to invest
substantially in the merged entity. The deal is advantageous to the pupils and
staff of both schools and, indeed, to both companies.
Developments are moving ahead steadily in our international schools. New or
additional leasehold buildings, which will add a total of 800 additional student
places from September 2004, are currently under construction for our schools in
Budapest, Shanghai and Moscow.
In September the Company purchased nine day care nurseries from Petits Enfants.
This acquisition has given the Group's Princess Christian Nurseries a
substantially greater presence and improved operational gearing in the important
South East England market. Overall occupancy in the Petits Enfants nurseries is
in line with our expectations and the integration plan is on target.
In our Outsourcing/Contracts Division we are substantially strengthening the
Business Development team to take advantage of Nord Anglia's track record and
reputation as a leading provider of outsourced education and training services.
I am pleased to announce the appointment of Raza Khan as Business Development
Director. Raza joins the Company from Hyder Business Services on March 1st this
year. I am also pleased to announce the appointment of Alan Travis from
Interserve. He will work in Raza's team as Director of Development for
Education Contracts. The Company is either currently bidding for or preparing to
bid for substantial contracts with the Home Office, the DfES and the Ministry of
Defence. I am confident that this newly strengthened development team will
increase the flow of potential bidding opportunities for the Company.
All Nord Anglia's businesses seek to deliver services of the highest quality.
Evidence of this was confirmed by recognition from three external sources.
EduAction - the joint venture company working in partnership with the London
Borough of Waltham Forest - was congratulated by David Miliband, Minister of
State for School Standards, for its 'excellent Key Stage 2 results'. Princess
Christian Nurseries was referred to as 'one of the best training providers in
the country' in the Adult Learning Inspectorate (ALI) chief inspector's annual
report and an inspection of the Army Foundation College, Harrogate by ALI rated
our services as 'excellent' (Grade 1).
Nord Anglia is a cash generative company and operational cash flow remains high.
At present our balance sheet is particularly strong benefiting from the #10m
fundraising successfully completed last September and from the contracted inflow
of funds from the sale of Hull Grammar School and other planned property
disposals which are either fully or partially complete.
Derek Green, who has served as non-executive director for 4 1/2 years, has
decided to stand down from the Board today. I am grateful for his contribution
during a critical period in the development of the Group and I wish him well for
the future.
Within the Company as a whole staff morale is high. It has been further
bolstered by the move to larger and more eligible head office premises over the
Christmas period. This has enabled us to site all major central functions in
one location.
I am confident of another successful year and I look forward to updating you on
further progress at the time of our interim results announcement in May".
Kevin McNeany
Chairman
For further information, please contact:
Kevin McNeany, Chairman
Andrew Fitzmaurice, Chief Executive Officer
Nord Anglia Education PLC
www.nordanglia.com Tel No: 0161 491 8404
Lisa Baderoon (lisab@buchanan.uk.com)
Buchanan Communications: M: 07721 413 496
www.buchanan.uk.com Tel No: 020 7466 5000
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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