New territories fuel growth as Exploration Logistics Group aquires Canada's EMS

Exploration Logistics Group plc, the UK-based provider of medical, safety, mine clearance and logistical support services has acquired Canadian firm Exploration Medical Services (EMS), successfully positioning Exploration Logistics to support the rapid expansion of oil, gas and mining operations in Canada driven by the escalating price of oil and other resources.

EMS provides remote site medical support in the Canadian North. It will now operate under Exploration Logistics' global remote site medical brand, Frontier Medical Services, and will also offer Canadian clients Exploration Logistics' global health and safety capabilities.

The acquisition is the first for the UK company since the arrival of Tim Mitchell, who joined the Exploration Logistics Group board as Deputy Chief Executive this year to implement an aggressive investment-driven growth strategy. Formerly, as EVP Strategic Development for Kroll globally and as President of Kroll Security Group in the UK, Mr Mitchell was instrumental in executing a similar growth strategy, completing more than 25 acquisitions, joint venture agreements and venture investments between 2002 and 2004, taking Kroll's market capital from $150 million to $1.9 billion and its stock price from $8 to $37.00 in that two years.

The last five years have seen significant organic growth for Exploration Logistics Group in an environment of increasingly scarce natural resources and political instability. The Group's comprehensive range of health, safety and logistical support services are proving essential to governments, commercial organisations, institutions and major humanitarian initiatives worldwide. Frontier Medical, the group's remote site medical division, is currently supporting peacekeeping operations in Darfur as well as MOD operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. MineTech, the group's specialist mine clearance division, is conducting widespread demining operations in Sudan and Chad on behalf of the United Nations. The company also works extensively with the oil, gas and mining industries.

Says Mr Mitchell, "Our clients are driven to invest and operate in increasingly challenging and remote environments. We are crossing new boundaries in our quest for scarce resources and our response to both global political instability and global development requires continuing and significant investment in reconstruction and infrastructure projects.

Exploration Logistics has the experience, structure and global capability to deliver comprehensive, professional support to clients in the most difficult and remote areas. With a commitment to investment and expansion, we are well positioned to capitalise on the opportunities for significant growth presented by this expanding market."

Earlier this year, Exploration Logistics Group successfully secured investment financing, and with it an injection of £2 million of growth capital.