In line with my thoughts of recent, stay well away from momentum stocks at the moment. Go into boring but stocks that can be seen to generate an increase in earnings. Ive been with this a few weeks and think a few may have picked up on that. Now breaking out and looking for further earnings enhancing Acquisitions.

Its a top notch architect company and not over exposed to the housing market. Has top management and is derd cheap on fundies, more to come on that . Any views appreciated, good or bad but I feel we could be onto a winner here.

Just look at this report from a tip sheet, all things checked out and OK........

Lifted this from another board..........

SMC stacks up - STRONG BUY
Companies: SMC
27/09/2005

Architecture and design group SMC, which works on major office, retail and residential projects in the UK, Eire and Europe, joined AIM via a 4.6 million placing in June with ambitions to consolidate this fragmented industry. Founder and chief executive Stewart McColl hopes that by creating a larger outfit, his company will be able to win bigger projects producing higher margins.

McColl founded SMC in 1996 and has delivered appetising organic growth in recent years by offering national coverage. This has allowed the group access to substantial and more profitable construction projects across a range of sectors and locations. Clients now include British Land, Canary Wharf Group, Morgan Stanley and Wm Morrison, amongst others.

We have already got the 100 million projects, explains McColl, but there is another step-change in scale to come that will allow us access to projects worth 200 million, 300 million, 400 million and even 500 million. Increased scale pays off because larger projects are higher margin, with higher fee levels and longer timescales, helping SMC plan staff requirements more accurately.

Last November, ahead of the AIM float, SMC appointed ex-Wembley stalwart Sir Rodney Walker, who has brought recent AIM success stories like Goals Soccer Centres and Spice Holdings to market, as non-executive chairman. His presence and contacts have boosted the groups cachet and, following the AIM listing, McColl is also keen to boost scale through acquisitions.

Shortly after the float, SMC completed the two acquisitions mooted in the prospectus Corstorphine & Wright Hills Erwin, a Manchester
and Lancaster-based commercial architecture specialist, and Philip Lees & Associates, an outfit based in Leeds city centre, with a bumper proportion of revenues wrought from repeat business.

We are one of the few consolidators that I know of in this market, adds McColl, and now that we are on AIM, we are after acquisitions that are far more significant in size.

SMC recently cheered followers with an update on new deals. Among a plethora of 100 million-plus projects was work on new headquarters for Deeley Properties in Coventry, Sports Centres for Warwick County Council as well as developments for Pillar Properties and Canary Wharf.

Overseas work included manufacturing and office units in Slovenia, as well as a 290-bed InterContinental Hotel in Pakistan. There was also news of planning consent for a 50 million British Land office campus at Coventry.

2004 was exceedingly strong for SMC, with turnover lifted by 43 per cent to 8.1 million and pre-tax profits sparking up from 100,000 to 1.1 million. Gross margins were a healthy 50 per cent.

More recently, SMC unveiled extremely strong maiden interims to June, sending the shares sharply higher to 70.5p. These revealed a 255 per cent profits jump to 1.1 million on a 47 per cent leap in sales to 5.4 million. McColl was particularly pleased with the 260 per cent vault in earnings per share and a 140 per cent surge at the EBITDA level to 1.45 million, especially since we only had 20 days worth of revenues from the two acquisitions completed at float in the numbers.

He says subsidiaries are already enjoying larger scale project wins as part of the larger AIM group. 'We are looking at a few businesses that we might acquire, and as the business grows bigger, we'll be more equipped to handle PPP and PFI projects'.

Analysts envisage further profits improvement this year to 2.9 million, with sales climbing to 12.8 million. On those numbers, earnings of 7.1p leave the stock trading on an undemanding multiple of 9.9. We believe SMC offers high earnings visibility as well as tasty levels of repeat business, and we are strong buyers.ENDS.

Worth doing your own research if you are interested.


DYOR

cheers GF.

Yes things are looking brilliant in this area Capa.

Rumour of the day in the Times today, states that there is rumour of a 6m placing being undertaken at 1.60.

As previously posted I reckoned on this, if the rumour and price is correct then that is great news in my opinion.

capa

Good news indeed Capa at that price.

SMC Group Plc
19 October 2006



SMC Group Plc

Stage payment in respect of acquisition of DTR:UK Ltd


SMC Group Plc, ('SMC' or the 'Company'), the AIM-listed leading group of
architects and designers, announces the payment of the next stage of
consideration in respect of the acquisition of DTR:UK Ltd, announced on
28 October 2005.

The Company has issued 291,436 new ordinary shares of 0.5 pence each at a price
of 160.33 pence per share, being the average closing share price for 27, 28 and
29th September 2006. The Company has also issued loan notes totalling
467,259. The consideration was calculated with reference to DTR:UK's third
quarter 2006 performance.

Application has been made for the New Ordinary Shares to be admitted to AIM.
It is expected that dealings in the New Ordinary Shares will commence on
20 October 2006.

- ends-


For further information please contact:

SMC Group Plc Tel: 44 (0) 20 7495 5335
Stewart McColl

Numis Corporation Plc Tel: 44 (0) 20 7776 1500
Michael Rowan

Bell Pottinger Corporate & Financial Tel: 44 (0) 20 7861 3232
David Rydell/Chris Hamilton

Back in the blue after a quiet few days.

goldfinger - updated Brokers note from Hardman dated 20th October 2006.

http://www.armshare.com/assets/contributordocs/SMC_October_2006.pdf

They've increased 2007 EPS to 18.3p.

Also

"Given this, the companys history and press speculation, we are
confident that SMCs latest round of acquisitions will not be the
last.

The current fund raising was completed at a good price for both
new and existing shareholders and we have set a new share price
target and valuation for SMC of 240p per share."

So that gives a 50% upside in share price from here on, for the Hardman price target of 240p.

Makes for good reading affc21. Ill put in on the link........

http://www.armshare.com/assets/contributordocs/SMC_October_2006.pdf

Pre-market open tick up in share price this morning, followed by more buying.

Looks like people are reading the Hardman note and thinking 50% isn't too shabby

capa

Well done guys - usefull posts - many thanks

Here's to an upwardly mobile day

AM

Looking good guys , looking good.

Published 31 October 2006 at 11:47, updated 11:52

Alsop asked to come up with new vision for Croydon

Will Alsop has been asked to do a Barnsley and come up with an exciting new vision for Croydon town centre in south London.



This article continues for subscribed users (sorry but I am not a subscriber)

http://www.ajplus.co.uk/news/news_article/?aid=55478&sid=49

Intersting news though.

Just a small piece of news above, with hopefully more to come, seeing as SMC have been a regular releaser of contract wins in the past. So maybe we are due for some news from SMC.

Wow - great contract wins from SMC - look at the fees contribtion - a great start to the day!!!!!!!!!.

AM

Yup growing nicely.......

SMC Group Plc
13 November 2006



SMC Group Plc
('SMC' or the 'Group')

New contract wins

SMC Group Plc, the architects and design business, is pleased to issue details
today of the construction value and new fees contracted since its previous
announcement in July 2006. The following are some of the projects contributing
to a total construction value of over 2.35bn and represent stage fees for SMC
in excess of 31m to be earned over the next few years, including construction
values (1.48bn) and stage fees (22m) secured as a result of the acquisition of
four businesses in Scotland (Davis Duncan Architects, Hugh Martin Architects,
Jenkins & Marr and Parr Architects) and the Midlands based Hickton Madeley
Architects, all on the 22nd September 2006.

These contract wins underpin the management's positive view on the Group's
trading position and also their confidence on the outlook for the future.

Mixed Use Developments

40m Cordwell Property, Yorkshire
50m Croydon 20/20 Vision, masterplanning in Croydon
40m Confidential project, North East of England

Offices/Office Parks

40m Opus Developments, IBM Site, Warwick
21m Saxan Securities, Office Development
3.5m Wrenbridge, Colwyn House, Colchester
16.5m CEG, Harrogate
5m Lunn Ventures, Seacroft, Leeds

Healthcare

30m Bluestone, North West LIFT Initiative
4m Mistal, ABI Unit & GP Surgery plus Residential, Newcastle

Industrial/Distribution

6.2m Wrenbridge Land, Royston, Kings Warren 1 and 2
9.2m Confidential Client, Blackburn and Mountheath
10m Reed Boardall, Bar lane, Boroughbridge

Residential

7m Richardson Cordwell, Millennium View, Coventry
7m HMS Collingwood Accommodation
13m SDC Builders, Bedford
8.6m Housing, Plymouth, Exmouth, Somerset, Tavistock and throughout
Devon generally



Retail

2m Food Stores, Falmouth and Plymouth
10m Confidential Client, Retail Store Extensions

Government Buildings/Ecclesiastical/Courts/Custodial

10m North West Estates, Ipswich County & Magistrates Courts
200m Civic Building, Midlands
1m Listed Church refurbishment, Aberdeen

Education

100m University Student Accommodation, confidential
20m City College, Norwich
22m Dundee College, Development of Gardyne Road Campus
7m Student Accommodation, Exeter

Leisure/Hospitality/Sports and Leisure

3.9m Alfred McAlpine Capital Projects, Ramada Hotel, NEC Birmingham
5m Classic Lodges, Hotels x 2, Stratford and Kanturk
50m The Pinnacle Leisure/Hotel/Residential/Retail/Attraction,
Birmingham
20m Confidential Exhibition Centre, North East of England


New business continues to be generated in many different sectors across the UK.
International work continues to flow into SMC Alsop in the Far East and North
America although the company remains selective about the contracts it pursues.

- ends -

For further information please contact:

SMC Group Plc Tel: +44 (0)20 7495 5335
Stewart McColl

Nice to see this one moving up this afternoon.

Continuing its march up this a.m.

Could we see 2 at long last?

capa

Doesn't seem to be much stock about.

Perhaps any overhang resultant from the placing has now cleared.

One can only hope

capa

Looking good again this morning.

capa