At a glance
Science Group plc is an international consulting services group supporting the entire product innovation lifecycle. The Group enables our clients to deliver on their investments in R&D. Our services include: applied science, product development, advisory and regulatory. These are combined with vertical market expertise in Medical, Food & Beverage, Industrial, Chemical, Energy and Consumer sectors. With offices throughout Europe and North America and staff fluent in over 30 languages Science Group supports a global client base in over 100 countries.
Science Group employees over 400 staff worldwide, the vast majority of which are highly qualified scientists, engineers or regulatory specialists. The Group owns two large UK-based R&D centres with leading edge facilities including a wide range of laboratories and operates under well-established brands including Leatherhead Food Research, Sagentia, Oakland Innovation, OTM Consulting and TSG Consulting.
Key investor information
Country and incorporation
Science Group plc is incorporated in the United Kingdom, with registered number 06536543. The main countries of operation are the UK and USA.
Other exchanges or trading platforms
The company is not listed on any other exchanges or trading platforms.
Restrictions on the transfer of securities
There are no restrictions on the transfer of securities.
UK city code on takeovers and mergers
Science Group plc is subject to UK City code on takeovers and mergers.
AIM rule 26
The information on this website is disclosed in accordance with AIM rule 26.
This page was last updated on 27 April 2021.
Securities in issue
The following information is correct as of 27 April 2021.
The company's issued share capital comprises 42,062,035 ordinary shares, each with a nominal value of £0.01. Each share has equal voting rights. There are 41,163,392 ordinary shares in issue excluding treasury shares. The company holds 898,643 shares in treasury and a further 104,400 shares are held by the Frontier Smart Technologies Employee Benefit Trust. The total number of voting rights in the company is therefore 41,058,992.
The figure of 41,058,992 may be used by shareholders as the denominator for the calculations by which they will determine if they are required to notify their interest in, or a change to their interest in, the company, under the FCA's Disclosure and Transparency Rules.
So far as the company is aware, 55.17% of the issued share capital is not held in public hands. This includes the treasury shares held by the company and the shares held by the Frontier Smart Technologies Employee Benefit Trust.
The company has been notified of the following significant shareholders. Significant shareholders are those holding 3% or more of the shares in issue excluding treasury shares.
The Board reviews potential share buybacks on a regular basis. The Company does not normally announce when it will be, or will not be, undertaking buybacks. In addition, Investors should be aware that, from time to time, the Company will be in a close period as required by the AIM Rules and other regulatory bodies, during which periods buybacks are not permitted. Close periods are not announced by the Company but will include a period (minimum 30 days) prior to Interim and Preliminary Results announcements.
Corporate calendar
Board of directors
Martyn Ratcliffe
Chairman
Martyn Ratcliffe was appointed Chairman on 15 April 2010 following his investment in Sagentia Group, now Science Group. He was Chairman of Microgen plc from 1998 to 2016 and Chairman of RM plc from 2011 to 2013. He was previously Senior Vice President of Dell Computer Corporation, responsible for EMEA. He has a degree in Physics from the University of Bath and an MBA from City University, London.
Sameet Vohra
Chief Financial Officer
Sameet Vohra was appointed to the Board on 11 January 2021. Mr Vohra has a degree in Economics from the University of Nottingham and qualified as a Chartered Accountant with KPMG where he spent eight years. His previous roles include Group Director of Finance at Spectris PLC, Group Financial Controller at TT Electronics PLC and Interim Group Finance Director at Ted Baker PLC.
Daniel Edwards
Group Managing Director
Dan Edwards was appointed to the Board on 24 April 2019. Mr Edwards joined the Company in 2004 and has held a number of roles within the Group including four years in the USA before being appointed Managing Director in 2012. He has an Engineering degree from the University of Cambridge and an MBA from Harvard Business School. He started his career at Rolls-Royce plc.
Michael Lacey-Solymar
Senior Independent Director
Michael Lacey-Solymar was appointed a Non-executive Director on 11 October 2012 and is the Company’s Senior Independent Non-executive Director. Mr Lacey-Solymar has over 25 years corporate finance experience, having spent 18 years at UBS and 7 years at Investec. He is currently chairman of Cambridge Medical Technologies. He has a degree in Modern Languages from the University of Oxford.
Peter Bertram
Independent Director
Peter Bertram was appointed as a Non-executive Director on 17 June 2020. Mr Bertram is currently Chairman of Manolete Partners plc. He has previously held a variety of Non-Executive board positions including Low & Bonar plc, Alphameric plc, Anite plc, Microgen plc, Phoenix IT group plc and Psion plc, and was CEO of Azlan Group plc. Mr Bertram is a Chartered Accountant and has a degree in Accounting from the University of Kent.
Company advisers
Nominated adviser & joint broker
Stifel Nicolaus Europe Limited
150 Cheapside,
London EC2V 6ET
Joint broker
Liberum Capital Limited
Ropemaker Place
25 Ropemaker Street
London EC2Y 9LY
Registrars
Equiniti Limited
Aspect House
Spencer Road, Lancing
West Sussex
BN99 6DA
Auditors
Grant Thornton UK LLP
101 Cambridge Science Park,
Milton Road
Cambridge
CB4 0FY
Corporate governance
The Board is committed to sound corporate governance and has adopted the Financial Reporting Council’s UK Corporate Governance Code July 2018 (“Code”). The Directors recognise the value of the Code and will take necessary measures to ensure that the Company complies taking into account the Company’s size and the nature of its business. This report sets out in broad terms how we comply at this point in time and where we are not compliant, sets out the reasoning.
The Board is committed to sound corporate governance and has adopted the Financial Reporting Council’s UK Corporate Governance Code July 2018 (“Code”). The Directors recognise the value of the Code and will take necessary measures to ensure that the Company complies taking into account the Company’s size and the nature of its business. This report sets out in broad terms how we comply at this point in time and where we are not compliant, sets out the reasoning.
Constitutional documents
AIM Admission Prospectus
Download PDF
Articles of Association
Download PDF
Placing Announcement
Download PDF
Committee Terms of Reference
Circulars
AGM Results
Modern Slavery Statements
Modern Slavery Statement FY19
Download PDF
Modern Slavery Statement FY18
Download PDF
Modern Slavery Statement FY17
Download PDF
Investor news
Read our investor news and announcements
Financial reports
View our financial reports and presentations
