Firm announces 拢100m recycling contract extension and says its on track to meet expectations following profit warning

May Gurney has insisted problems which led to a profit warning last month and a collapse in its share price are 鈥渞ing-fenced鈥 and it remains on track to meet expectations.

In an update to the City this morning, May Gurney said the trading for the six months to the 30 September 2012 鈥渉as been in line with our expectations鈥 and that three issues highlighted in a profit warning last month 鈥渉ave been ring-fenced and are being addressed鈥.

May Gurney issued and announced the departure of its chief executive Phillip Fellowes-Prynne.

Today, May Gurney said it had won a seven-year contract extension with the Somerset Waste Partnership (SWP), for the on-going provision of recycling and refuse collection services, valued at up to 拢100m.

It added that in the first five months of its financial year the firm has won a total of 拢126m of new work and 拢150m of contract extensions, with an order book of 拢1.5bn.

Shares in May Gurney fell more than 40% on the news of the profit warning on 6 September, to just over 130p, wiping almost 拢66m off the value of the company. The shares hit a low of 100p on 12 September. On early trading this morning the price had rallied, rising 6% to 134p.

In the profit warning last month, the firm said it had 鈥渙n-going difficulties鈥 within its Scottish Utilities business as Scotia Gas Networks (SGN) looked to use more in-house labour. The firm subsequently announced plans to shed up to 250 jobs in Scotland as it looks to down size its business north of the Border.

The firm also said it was experiencing 鈥渟ignificant exiting costs鈥 as it ran down its Facilities Services division and had set-aside a 拢10m one-off charge to cover the costs. The firm also said it was facing some serious operational issues within two long-term MaGos waste and recycling contracts, after failing to meet targeted margins.

May Gurney interim chief executive Willie MacDiarmid, who replaced Fellowes-Prynne said this morning: 鈥淧lans are in place to address the issues we highlighted in September and we are taking steps to reinforce the good work already started to give a clear focus on commercial disciplines.

鈥淚 have also been very encouraged by positive conversations with our clients, and by our business wins in the first five months, totalling more than 拢276m.

鈥淲ith robust operational improvements and efficiencies being driven forward, May Gurney is focused on delivering a solid future performance.鈥