7th Jan 2005 07:00
For immediate release Friday, 7 January 2005 Keller Group plc Year End Trading Update Keller Group plc ("Keller" or "the Group"), the international groundengineering specialist, today announces a trading update for its financial yearended 31 December 2004.The Board is confident that the Group's overall performance for the year willbe in line with market expectations.Overall, the Group has delivered good underlying organic sales growth in theyear across its international markets. In particular, Suncoast's first halfprogress was maintained, resulting in restored full-year margins. Asanticipated in our August 2004 interim results announcement, Makers hasreturned to sustained profitability in the second half.As expected, Group profits for 2004 will reflect a net adverse impact fromexchange rate movements, principally relating to the weaker US dollar, ofaround ‚£2m.With the recent awards of several large contracts in the US, announcedseparately today, the current order book is good, representing over fourmonths' sales.Keller intends to announce its preliminary results on 7 March 2005.Justin Atkinson, Keller's Chief Executive, said:"Having successfully addressed the issues in Makers and Suncoast, the Group hasmade considerable progress for the year as a whole, notwithstanding the impactof currency movements."The last quarter of 2004 saw a robust order intake for the Group and thecurrent order book now represents over four months' sales."For further information, please contact:Keller Group plc Justin Atkinson, Chief Executive 020 8341 6424 James Hind, Finance Director Smithfield 020 7360 4900 Reg Hoare (07831 406 117) Rupert Trefgarne ENDRelated Shares:
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