BSI Group Announces Annual Results in Asia

PRESS RELEASE

24 April 2003

BSI Group today announced the appointment of W Wayne Booker, formerly vice-chairman of Ford Motor Company's Global Operations, to the BSI Board. Mr. Booker joins BSI on 1 May 2003 as a non-executive director, providing extensive experience in the Asian industrial arena, particularly in the automotive sector.

Mr. Booker's Asian experience includes participation in the US-China and US-Thailand Business Councils and on the US National Committee on US-China relations and his position as Chairman of Auto Alliance (Thailand) Company Limited. He is also currently a director of AGCO Corporation (Georgia, USA) and Koc Holdings (Istanbul, Turkey), both companies with strong Asian links.

Mr. Booker's appointment follows a series of announcements as BSI has strengthened its global coverage with particularly good results in its Asia markets. Some highlights include:

opening new management systems offices in Seoul, Osaka and Hong Kong
new BSI Inspectorate laboratories in the Singapore
the acquisition of KPMG Quality Registrars' North American ISO management systems certification business
34% sales growth in BSI Management Systems in China/Korea/Japan markets
20% growth in China for BSI Inspectorate
Commenting on the appointment of Wayne Booker, Chairman Sir David John KCMG said: "I am delighted that someone of Mr Booker's calibre and experience in the Asia business arena is joining BSI. His knowledge of doing business in this region and understanding of its widely divergent nature will boost our capacity to grow our operations. One market in particular, China, is a primary focus for us and Mr Booker's work with the US-China Business Council will be invaluable."

"I am pleased to report a strong performance in a difficult international trading environment. These results are a credit to the management and staff and I warmly thank them all for their efforts."

Mr W Wayne Booker added: "I'm excited to be joining BSI Group at this stage in its global expansion. I know that my experience of helping to develop new markets will benefit BSI Group, particularly in its key markets in Asia where the next big markets are to be found, and where the majority of growth will occur.

"We see these markets as being key to the BSI Group and as current results show, BSI can bring its skills and expertise in supporting and facilitating international industry and trade within Asia, where it is sensitive to the distinctive needs of national markets in this region."

BSI Group Financial highlights

Strong results have been delivered against a backdrop of reduction in international trade post 11 September 2001.
- Increase in operating profit (including associates but excluding exceptionals and goodwill amortisation) of £21.3 million compared to £21.1 million for the year to 31 December 2001
- Group turnover up at £232.8 million
  Commenting on the results, Chairman Sir David John KCMG said: "2002 was a year of growth and expansion for the BSI Group. At the turn of the year the acquisition of KPMG Quality Registrars' North American ISO management systems certification business made BSI the leading provider of management systems registration in North America. Further investment in Asia, the Middle East, Russia, Ukraine and Central America has ensured that the Group's international expansion continued apace. The Group's global standing has never been higher.
  
  About BSI GROUP
  
  BSI Group is an international provider of services to businesses and other organisations. All our business units are working to the same vision of supporting business improvement and trade world-wide. Through provision of standards, technical information, systems assessment, product testing and commodity inspection services, BSI supplies vital third-party services that enable its customers to trade effectively and to improve their operations and products.
  
  For further information about BSI, please visit our website:www.bsi-global.com
  
  ENDS
  
  For further information contact:
  
  Jennifer Phang
  
  Phang & Naughton +852- 2231 9499
  
  Jessica Wong
  
  Phang & Naughton +852- 2231 9496
  
  Notes to editors
  - British Standards, the UK's national standards body, is based in London, UK. It creates and updates national and international standards, reflecting the needs of stakeholders, including UK businesses and consumers.
  - Business Information, a provider of information on standards and associated material.
  - Management Systems, a provider of certification to management systems is based at BSI's headquarters in the UK. Following the 2002 purchase of the North American systems assessment business of KPMG, BSI Inc, based in Reston, Virginia, is the largest company providing management systems certification in North America. Management Systems also has regional headquarters in Hong Kong to service the network of offices in the Asian-Pacific region.
  - Product Services, based in Hemel Hempstead, UK, provides product-testing and awards Kitemark registration and CE marking. The Kitemark is a BSI registered trademark.
  - Inspectorate, the leading independent inspection and analysis company, joined the BSI Group in 1998. Inspectorate has its main offices in Witham, UK; Houston, Texas and Singapore.