P-E International Plc, the Egham, Surrey-based management and computing consultancy has turned in disappointing results for the first half of 1991 (see below). International business was up 15%, and the UK-based Systems Group surpassed expectations. Management Consulting and Information Technology, however, saw profits slump in the second quarter, as did Computer Services. The group’s aggressive acquisition policy continues nonetheless, the latest three additions being manufacture and engineering consultancy Handley-Walker Group (CI No 1,715), Dutch company Fray Data Intersite BV (CI No 1,642), and David Bellamy’s environmental consultancy David Bellamy Associates (CI No 1,692). The Dutch software and systems house is being integrated with P-E’s existing systems business in the Netherlands, Westvries Computer Consulting BV. The acquisition of Handley-Walker was formally cemented only last month, and the two companies are currently discussing the merger details. Chairman Hugh Lang is uncertain how well his company will pick up new business now that the holiday period is over. His first priority, he says, will be to improve the company’s margins, so that the drive for acquisitions will have to take a back seat for a while.
