Contractor posts strong results with pre-tax profit up 9%

A high proportion of repeat orders and growth in infrastructure helped Costain increase pre-tax profit by 9% in its full-year results to 31 December 2012.

Pre-tax profit grew to 拢26.1m from 拢23.9m the previous year. A focus on higher margins, now up to 4%, led to a drop in revenue of 5% to 拢934.5m, down from 拢968.3m the previous year.

Costain chief executive Andrew Wyllie told 好色先生TV the results reflected a focus on 鈥渞epeat orders for blue chip customers鈥, with repeat business up to 90%.

Wylie said: 鈥淎ll the major blue chip clients are looking to consolidate their supply chains and are hoping to use fewer contractors. They鈥檙e changing the way they procure and going for a much more integrated approach.鈥

The firm鈥檚 infrastructure division increased revenue by 20% to 拢562.3m, up from 拢466m.

Costain said the rail, highways and airport divisions continue to see high tendering activity.

During the year Costain secured new contracts and extensions worth 拢900m with a year-end total order book of 拢2.4bn. The firm has around 拢1.7bn of revenue secured for 2014 onwards.

Wylie said the firm was 鈥渞amping up鈥 its business development push in the water sector and saw 鈥渓ots of opportunities in oil and gas鈥.

Wylie added: 鈥淐lients now want a much more long term relationship that works better for them. The notion you can offer yesterdays product at yesterday鈥檚 price is not what we believe in at Costain.鈥