Jarvis chairman Steven Norris claims company has turned corner as core businesses report 拢16m operating profit

Support services group Jarvis has posted a pre-tax loss of 拢56.6m, but chairman Steven Norris argued that the company had finally turned the corner after years of difficulties.

Indeed, the results to 31 March were better than the previous 12 months, when Jarvis announced a pre-tax loss of 拢391m. This year鈥檚 loss was put down to a debt-for equity exchange last year, which cost the business 拢61.9m in financial adjustments. The debt-for-equity exchange effectively gave debtors such as banks a major share of the business without having to pay off the spiralling amounts Jarvis owed them.

The company has slimmed down its business, and now focuses mainly on rail work having left the PFI arena, in which it has mounted many of its previous losses. As a result, turnover fell from 拢509.7m to 拢401.2m. The company鈥檚 core businesses actually reported an operating profit of 拢16.2m.

Norris said: 鈥淭here is still a great deal to do, but I am confident that we now have a strong business with which to go forward and the right team in place to complete the recovery.鈥