First-half trading 'exceptionally challenging' at construction supplies firm

Construction materials supplier SIG has described trading in the first six months of 2009 as 鈥渆xceptionally challenging鈥�.

Over the period it recorded sales of 拢1.35bn, down 10% from 拢1.5bn in 2008.

A company statement said: 鈥淭he early part of the year saw depressed activity levels in the UK, exacerbated by bad weather in February, and after a modest improvement in most business streams in March trading has remained inconsistent though broadly stable thereafter through to the end of June.鈥�

To date it has made cost savings of 拢74m, which included 124 branch closures or mergers and 2004 redundancies.

Net debt at 30 June 2009 was 拢276m, compared with 拢697.1m at 31 December 2008.

The company added: 鈥淎gainst this background SIG continues to run its business tightly, taking decisive action to reconfigure its operations and reduce costs further while protecting the integrity of its network and service offering, defending market share and focusing resolutely on cash management.鈥�

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