Group’s order book bulges to £5.4m as focus narrows on PFI

Support services and construction group Carillion says it is looking forward to an imminent period of growth despite a slight fall in turnover for the six months to 30 June 2005, down to £939m from £952m, excluding joint ventures. As it continues to focus on PFI projects its order book now stands at £5.4 bn, with financial close on a PFI project for a hospital in Portsmouth worth in excess of a billion pounds expected in coming months.

Underlying profit before tax rose to £20.1m from £18.9m a year ago. Chairman Philip Rogerson said that Carillion had now completed its programme of disposals and created a well-balanced business that would focus on markets that offered good prospects for growth.

He said: “I am pleased to report that Carillion has made good progress in the first six months of 2005 and delivered results firmly in line with expectations. In view of our good progress in the first half of the year and with the overall outlook for trading in the second half expected to remain positive, the Board is confident that Carillion is on course to make further good progress in 2005.”