Interim Results

RNS Number : 7495I

Keller Group PLC

30 July 2012

 



Monday, 30 July 2012

Keller Group plc

Interim Results for the six months ended 30 June 2012

Keller Group plc ("Keller" or "the Group"), the international ground engineering specialist, announces its interim results for the six months ended 30 June 2012.

Results summary:
	2012	2011
Revenue	£613.8m	£545.5m
Operating profit	£13.3m	£6.4m
Profit before tax	£11.0m	£3.4m
Earnings per share	12.4p	4.6p
Total dividend per share	7.6p	7.6p

Highlights include:

·          Much improved Group result, with three out of four divisions ahead of last year

·          Revenue up by 13%

·          Operating profit more than doubled

·          Continued market recovery in the US, the Group's biggest single market

·          US revenue up by 27% in constant currency

·          Good progress on business improvement initiatives

·          Net debt of £118.9m (2011: £127.8m), representing 1.5x annualised EBITDA

·          Interim dividend maintained at 7.6p per share

·          Strong order book, 27% ahead of this time last year

·          Work to be executed in next 12 months up by around 20%

Justin Atkinson, Keller Chief Executive said:

 "These results show a strong improvement overall, with three out of four of the Group's regions performing significantly better than at this time last year. In addition to the usual seasonal improvement, a recent stepping up of production on several of our major projects will help to support a stronger second half.  

"Accordingly, the Group's results for the full year are expected to be slightly ahead of the top end of the range of market expectations.  

"However, there remains much uncertainty around the macroeconomic outlook and conditions in our construction markets around the world continue to be mixed.  Longer term, the Group's geographic diversification and strong financial position, together with the ongoing business improvement initiatives, make it well placed to take advantage of growth opportunities in both existing and new markets."  

Please click the following link to view the full Interim Results statement 

http://www.rns-pdf.londonstockexchange.com/rns/7495I_1-2012-7-27.pdf

For further information, please contact:

Keller Group plc	www.keller.co.uk
Justin Atkinson, Chief Executive	020 7616 7575
James Hind, Finance Director
Finsbury
James Leviton, Rowley Hudson		020 7251 3801

A presentation for analysts will be held at 9.15 for 9.30am at The London Stock Exchange, 10 Paternoster Square, London, EC4M 7LS

A live audio webcast will be available from 9.30am and, on demand, from 2.00 pm at
http://www.keller.co.uk/keller/investor/result-centre/latest-results/

Notes to Editors:

Keller is the world's largest independent ground engineering specialist, providing technically advanced and cost-effective foundation solutions to the construction industry. With annual revenue of around £1.2bn, Keller has around 7,000 staff world-wide.

Keller is the market leader in the US and Australia; it has prime positions in most established European markets; and a strong profile in many developing markets. 

 

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