BLUE ARROW TO BUY U.S. RICHARDS COMPANIES <Blue Arrow Plc> said it had agreed terms to acquire a group of U.S. Companies collectively known as the <Richards Companies>, which specialise in executive recruitment and management consultancy on personnel matters. The total consideration will be 29 mln U.S. Dlrs of which 50 pct will be payable in cash and 50 pct by the issue of 1.36 mln new ordinary shares in Blue Arrow. The Richard Companies made a pre-tax profit of 3.6 mln dlrs in the year to end-1986, on turnover of 7.1 mln dlrs with net tangible assets at the end of 1986 of 3.4 mln dlrs. Blue Arrow shares were trading 9p lower at 670 this morning.