JUDGES SCIENTIFIC plc

("Judges Scientific", "Judges" or "the Group")

Appointment of Director and Board transition

31 October 2017

Judges Scientific, a group involved in the buy and build of scientific instrument businesses, announces the appointment of Mark Lavelle as Director and Chief Operating Officer designate with effect from 15 November 2017.  David Barnbrook will be retiring from his position as Director and Chief Operating Officer on 31 December 2017. 

Mark brings with him significant industry and operational experience acquired during 15 years at Halma Plc, a FTSE 250 Specialist Manufacturing Group.  At Halma he worked in a variety of roles across the group including as chief executive of the Industrial Safety Division, where he was responsible for the running of eight independent companies generating revenues in excess of £50 million.  Mark studied chemistry at Cambridge University and business at INSEAD, and his career to date has included spells at Perkin Elmer in sales and Bank of America in corporate finance before joining Halma Plc.

Commenting on the appointment, Alex Hambro, Chairman of Judges, said:

"On behalf of the Board and everyone at Judges Scientific, I wish to thank David for his dedication and invaluable contribution to the Group's development over the past 12 years.  David has been involved across the entire Group first as MD of Fire Testing Technology, then as COO which included standing in as MD of a number of the Group's companies. 

"We are also delighted to welcome Mark to the Board. His experience at Halma as divisional chief executive for five years will be particularly relevant to his mission within our Group."

For further information please contact:

Regulatory Information

Mark Stephen Lavelle, aged 59, currently holds, and has held (including all appointments during the five years preceding the date of this announcement), the following directorships and partnerships, other than of the Company:

Current Directorships

None

Past Directorships

 Advanced Electronics Limited

Aquionics Inc.

Castell Safety China Ltd.

Castell Safety International Limited

CEF Safety Systems B.V.

Fortress Interlocks Limited

Halma India

Hanovia Limited33

Palintest Limited32

Perma Pure India

Pixelteq, Inc.

Serv Trayvou Interverrouillage

Smith Flow Control Limited

Sonar Research & Development Limited

Swift 943 Limited

Tritech International Limited

Tritech Holdings Limited

Ulvertech Engineering Limited

Mark Lavelle has confirmed that there is no other additional information to be disclosed under Schedule 2 (g) of the AIM Rules

Notes to editors:

Judges Scientific plc (AIM: JDG), is a group involved in the buy and build of scientific instrument businesses.  The Group currently consists of 16 businesses acquired since it was re-admitted to AIM in 2005.  The acquired companies are primarily UK-based with products sold worldwide to a diverse range of markets including higher education institutions, the scientific communities, manufacturers and regulatory authorities.  The UK is a recognised centre of excellence for scientific instruments. The Group companies have been awarded five Queen's Awards for innovation and export. 

Judges Scientific maintains a policy of selectively acquiring businesses that generate sustainable profits and cash. Shareholder returns are created through the repayment of debt, organic growth and dividends.

The Group's companies predominantly operate in niche end markets, with long term growth fundamentals and resilient margins.

For further information, please visit www.judges.uk.com