TIDMWSG

RNS Number : 9939Q

Westminster Group PLC

25 June 2020

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONTAINS INSIDE INFORMATION FOR THE PURPOSES OF ARTICLE 7 OF EU REGULATION 596/2014

Westminster Group Plc

('Westminster', the 'Group' or the 'Company')

AGM Statement

and Investor Webinar at 12.30pm on 23 July 2020

Westminster Group Plc (AIM: WSG), a leading supplier of managed services and technology-based security solutions worldwide, will hold its Annual General Meeting today at 11am at the Company's offices Westminster House, Blacklocks Hill, Banbury Lane, Banbury, Oxfordshire, OX17 2BS.

In order to comply with the UK Government's COVID-19 measures which restricts, amongst other things, public gatherings of people, the AGM is being convened as a 'closed meeting' with a quorum of two and other shareholders will not be permitted entry on the grounds of safety. All votes will be taken as a poll which will include all the proxy votes submitted in accordance with the notice of AGM.

Ahead of the AGM, Westminster's Chief Executive Officer, Peter Fowler, has issued the following statement updating on trading:

"In our 2019 Annual Report I was pleased to report that we have achieved impressive year on year revenue growth over the past few years and that we expected this to continue. Notwithstanding the impact of COVID-19, trading for 2020 started on a positive note and this has continued throughout the first six months of the year. Since the start of the COVID-19 crisis, we have maintained full employment of all our staff and have remained extremely busy, even expanding parts of our business. We are continuing to manage our cash resources well, and as of today's date the Group has cash in the bank of circa GBP1.7million.

"As previously announced, flights to our West African airport operation were suspended for 3 months on 22 March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The authorities are currently assessing the situation and have begun to ease the lockdown with a view to reopening the airport for commercial traffic. Some airlines are provisionally looking to recommence services in mid-July. However, we await formal notification of the dates.

"I am pleased to report that our container screening operations in Ghana have been largely unaffected by COVID-19 and continue to generate healthy returns.

"Following successful fever screening trials at Stockholm's Arlanda Airport, both Menzies and their clients have been impressed with the versatility of the system, adapting to different challenges and processes within the airport environment. As the trial period comes to an end, Menzies Aviation is confident that they can now offer the Westminster solution to their global clients as part of their wider commercial package.

"As previously announced, we have embarked on a project to introduce specialist 'unattended retail' vending machines that dispense masks and facial coverings to the UK market. For this project Westminster has entered into two exclusive partnerships in order to deliver the best possible vending solutions to clients. Tru Vend are a subsidiary of an existing supplier and are the manufacturers of a wide range of vending machines specifically for PPE items. Westminster has signed a UK exclusive agreement to distribute and market the machines in the UK unattended retail space. SV365 Technologies are Westminster's second partner in this venture and have been involved in the vending machine industry for 30 years bringing a wealth of experience to the process. SV365 will manage the day to day operations, restocking and maintenance of the deployed machines across the UK, utilising Westminster's products, as well as delivering the cutting-edge telemetry technology. The telemetry systems are the only one of their kind in Europe that have a live feed of the machines actions when in operation, which will give the stakeholders full live visibility of the machines performance and vending output. UV Hand Sanitizer applications and complete contactless payment methods ensure that the Westminster vending machines are the most advanced in the market, which is important, especially during the current pandemic environment.

"Continuing our programme of targeted joint ventures and strategic partnerships, we are delighted to have signed a new strategic alliance agreement with JP International Training Limited ('JP International'). As part of our expansion programme in today's "New Normal", we have been developing solutions to provide our worldwide clients, organisations and businesses with e-Learning platforms to help maintain skills and competency of their staff. Our strategic partnership with JP International will further enhance our e-product services and will allow access to industry-leading training, delivered at our clients' own pace and tailored to enhance their employees knowledge, skills and ability so they may carry out their roles effectively.

"A key strategy for 2020 has been to redefine our diverse businesses in line with our 'One Company, One Vision' approach which involved rebranding parts of our business to better reflect the global Westminster brand. To those ends we are implementing several new strategies.

"We have recently launched the first phase of the new Westminster website. The website has been designed to ensure the visitor journey throughout the site is an informative interaction with the Westminster Group and its strong and trusted brand. The new website is still a work in progress with more content and applications constantly being added. The other Group websites are in the process of being migrated. The new website brings better focus on the Group's vast range of LAND, SEA & AIR products and solutions, and will in due course encompass a sophisticated e-commerce section and enlarged customer and investor engagement areas.

"In addition to the new website, a re-branding exercise was completed with the Westminster Group logo being modernised and aligned with tones and formats of the new website.

"We have also implemented a UK focussed TV advertising campaign across a variety of channels, with the theme 'Get Back to Work Safely'. Whilst this is principally targeted at generating sales, it is equally designed to enhance brand awareness and the expansion our UK client base. We have also expanded our product base to not only include all levels of fever and detection and associated equipment but also a range of sanitisation products and systems to assist businesses maintain compliance with social distancing requirements.

"These are exciting times for Westminster, and I look forward to the website's further expansion in the weeks ahead together with the various other expansion and marketing initiatives we are undertaking.

"Despite the lockdown and inability to travel, discussions have been continuing with a number of prospective clients for significant managed services contracts.

"Over the next few months and years, we have an opportunity to achieve unprecedented growth from the prospects we are pursuing, and the Board and I remain committed to delivering on this potential."

Investor Webinar

As previously reported, the Company will be holding an investor webinar at 12:30 pm on 23 July 2020 to provide an update on the Company's activities and trading. Further details and registration details are available on the Group's website at https://www.wsg-corporate.com/investor-relations/ . Questions can be submitted in advance to Westminster@walbrookpr.com .

For further information please contact:

 
Westminster Group Plc                      Media enquiries via Walbrook 
                                            PR 
Rt. Hon. Sir Tony Baldry - Chairman 
Peter Fowler - Chief Executive Officer 
Mark Hughes - Chief Financial Officer 
 
S. P. Angel Corporate Finance LLP (NOMAD 
 & Broker) 
Stuart Gledhill                            020 3470 0470 
Caroline Rowe 
 
Walbrook (Investor Relations) 
Tom Cooper                                 020 7933 8780 
Paul Vann                                  0797 122 1972 
                                           tom.cooper@walbrookpr.com 
 

Notes:

Westminster Group plc is a specialist security and services group operating worldwide via an extensive international network of agents and offices in over 50 countries.

Westminster's principal activity is the design, supply and ongoing support of advanced technology security solutions, encompassing a wide range of surveillance, detection (including Fever Detection), tracking and interception technologies and the provision of long-term managed services contracts such as the management and running of complete security services and solutions in airports, ports and other such facilities together with the provision of manpower, consultancy and training services. The majority of its customer base, by value, comprises governments and government agencies, non-governmental organisations (NGO's) and blue-chip commercial organisations.

The Westminster Group Foundation was formed in 2014 as an initiative of Westminster Group plc. during the West African Ebola Crisis.

The Foundation's goal is to support the communities in which the Group operates by working with local partners and other established charities to provide goods or services for the relief of poverty and the advancement of education and healthcare particularly in the developing world.

The Westminster Group Foundation is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation, CIO, registered with the Charities Commission number 1158653.

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END

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June 25, 2020 02:00 ET (06:00 GMT)

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