RPS Group plc () is a global

professional services Professional services are occupations in the service sector requiring special training in the arts or sciences. Some professional services, such as architects, accountants, engineers, doctors, and lawyers require the practitioner to hold profes ...

firm of consultants and service providers, headquartered in

Abingdon-on-Thames Abingdon-on-Thames ( ), commonly known as Abingdon, is a historic market town and civil parish in the ceremonial county of Oxfordshire, England, on the River Thames. Historically the county town of Berkshire, since 1974 Abingdon has been admini ...

, England. It is listed on the

London Stock Exchange London Stock Exchange (LSE) is a stock exchange in the City of London, England, United Kingdom. , the total market value of all companies trading on LSE was £3.9 trillion. Its current premises are situated in Paternoster Square close to St Pa ...

and it became a constituent of the

FTSE 250 Index The FTSE 250 Index ( "Footsie") is a capitalisation-weighted index consisting of the 101st to the 350th largest companies listed on the London Stock Exchange. Promotions and demotions to and from the index occur quarterly in March, June, Septemb ...

on 11 November 2022.

History

RPS was founded in 1970, as Rural Planning Services,Corporate factsheet
RPS Group with founder Michael Boddington as its first chief executive. It was first listed on the

in 1987. In the late 20th century, the company expanded under the leadership of a later chief executive, Alan Hearne, and in 2001 he received the

Financial Times The ''Financial Times'' (''FT'') is a British daily newspaper printed in broadsheet and published digitally that focuses on business and economic current affairs. Based in London, England, the paper is owned by a Japanese holding company, Nikke ...

Entrepreneur of the Year award and company was nominated in the top four for PLC of the Year in the same awards. In August 2022,

WSP Global WSP Global Inc. is a Canadian company with American and British roots, providing management and consultancy services to the built and natural environment. It is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange. After the purchase of New York-headquartered ...

made a

takeover offer In business, a takeover is the purchase of one company (the ''target'') by another (the ''acquirer'' or ''bidder''). In the UK, the term refers to the acquisition of a public company whose shares are listed on a stock exchange, in contrast to ...

to purchase RPS Group for £591 million. In September 2022, RPS received a counter takeover offer from

Tetra Tech Tetra Tech, Inc. is an American consulting and engineering services firm based in Pasadena, California. The company provides consulting, engineering, program management, and construction management services in the areas of water, environment, inf ...

for £636 million with WSP opting not to increase its bid. RPS' shareholders voted to accept the Tetra Tech offer in November 2022 with the transaction scheduled to be completed by the end of the year.Results of Court Meeting and General Meeting
RPS Group 3 November 2022

References

External links

RPS Group
{{FTSE 250 Index constituents Companies based in Oxfordshire Consulting firms established in 1970 Engineering consulting firms Companies listed on the London Stock Exchange Construction and civil engineering companies of the United Kingdom 1970 establishments in England Construction and civil engineering companies established in 1970 British companies established in 1970