LONDON (dpa-AFX) - Keller Group plc (KLR.L) reported full-year 2011 pre-tax profit of 21.9 million pounds, higher than 17.8 million pounds in the prior year. On a per share basis, earnings rose to 24.4 pence from 17.0 pence a year earlier.
Excluding goodwill impairment, pretax profit for the previous year was 39.6 million pounds.
Earnings per share before goodwill impairment was down to 24.4 pence from 43.2 pence a year ago.
Revenue grew to 1.15 billion pounds from 1.07 billion pounds last year. Stripping out the effects of acquisitions and foreign exchange movements, 2011 revenue was 7% higher than 2010, almost wholly due to a 13% increase in like-for-like revenue in North America.
The Board has recommended a final dividend of 15.2 pence per share.
Looking forward, Justin Atkinson, Keller Chief Executive said,
'Overall, whilst the business is expected to show steady improvement in 2012, the year will not be without further challenges, particularly given the economic uncertainty and a slow start to the year in Europe.
However, with signs of strengthening demand in certain of our key markets, an increased number of larger contracts in the order book and with the benefits of our group-wide business improvement initiatives starting to come through, we are confident that 2012 will be a year of progress.'
Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX
© 2012 AFX News
