The multidisciplinary firm, which is in talks to buy construction manager Mace (page 13), recorded pre-tax profit up 12% to 拢16.8m in the six months to 30 September 1999. Turnover also rose 12% to hit 拢244.9m.
Jeffries said the group had gone through significant internal change over the past six months and customers were now reaping the benefits. He said large defence and rail contracts would bring additional volume to sales for the second-half figures.
Atkins鈥� property, transport and management, and industry divisions all improved operating profit, but operating profit in the international division halved to 拢800 000 because of tough economic conditions such as fluctuations in the oil price and UK interest rates. International work accounts for 13% of turnover. Jeffries said: 鈥淭he fundamentals of the business remain sound.鈥�
The property division raised operating profit from 拢3.2m to 拢4.9m on turnover up from 拢70.7m to 拢81.3m. Jeffries said property firm Lambert Smith Hampton, which was bought for 拢49.8m, was winning incremental work with Atkins through cross selling between the two companies鈥� customer bases.
The transport arm almost doubled its operating profit to 拢4m. Jeffries said the roads business had performed well but that there were still considerable fluctuations in rail workload. The company is part of the Metronet consortium bidding for the part-privatisation of London Underground.
Jeffries said the management and industry business had undergone a fundamental restructuring to focus on key markets such as utilities, pharmaceuticals and petrochemicals. Its operating profit was up slightly to 拢2.9m.
