RPS Group Plc /

RPS Group plc (LSE: RPS) is a major UK-based environmental and planning consultancy. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index. The company was founded by Michael A B Boddington in April 1972 as an environmental planning practice. Michael Boddington was Chief Executive until 1982, when the failure of the Saudi Shobokshi Group to pay outstanding accounts forced a change of ownership. It was first listed on the London Stock Exchange in 1987. In the 1990s it expanded into Scotland and Ireland. More recently it has expanded into Europe, North America and Australia. In 2001 it acquired Ashdown Environmental Limited, an environmental consultancy specialising in noise and air quality. In 2003 it acquired Hydrosearch, an energy consultancy. In 2006 it acquired Burks Green, an architectural and civil engineering consultancy based in Newark-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire in England. In 2007 it bought MetOcean Engineers, an Australian practice. In 2008 it acquired R.W. Gregory, a planning practice, Geocet, an environmental consultancy, Rudall Blanchard Associates, an Health & Safety practice, Oceanfix, a hydrographic surveying practice, and Paras, a