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SMC Group has announced that future planned acquisitions will broaden its operating sectors, provide wider geographical representation across the UK and considerably increase the construction value of contracts secured.

Speaking at the company's annual meeting, chairman Sir Rodney Walker said: "The first year of life as a public company has been a very busy one. We have continued to implement our acquisition strategy with a further four acquisitions completed during the first five months of 2006."

Added to the company's earlier acquisitions this makes a total of seven since admission to the AIM-listed leading group of architects and designers in June 2005.

SMC confirmed that it has secured projects worth something in the region of £1.4bn in construction value. With the acquisition of SMC Charter Architects, a further £800m construction value has also estimated to have been gained.

Only last week, one of SMC's clients, Investors in the Community, a consortium led by Land Securities Trillium and Mill Group, was selected as one of two consortia to proceed to the ‘Optimum Bid Stage' on the £250m Leeds City Council ºÃÉ«ÏÈÉúTV Schools for the Future programme. SMC Gower Architects, the company's local subsidiary, is currently advising the consortium which will know if it will be finally selected later this year.