We are the world's largest independent ground engineering specialist, renowned for providing technically advanced and cost effective foundation solutions. Our reputation is built on engineering excellence and a commitment to continual innovation.

Our services are used across the construction sector in infrastructure, industrial, commercial, residential and environmental projects. We have unrivalled coverage in Europe, North America, Australia, and South Africa and a growing presence in Asia, the Middle East and Latin America.

With an annual turnover of £1.5bn, we have around 9,000 staff world-wide with offices in more than 40 countries.

Our businesses
http://www.keller.co.uk/aboutkeller/businesses.aspx







Keller adds 7.3 percent after the engineering company reports first-half profits that more than trebled from a year ago.

"Keller's interim results show that the group is now back on the front foot after several difficult years of unprecedented volume declines in most of its key markets," Numis Securities says in a research note.

Numis maintains an "add" rating on Keller shares, while Investec keeps a "buy" rating, describing Keller's results as an "encouraging set of interims."

Final Thursday 15 Nov

RNS Number : 1648R

Keller Group PLC

15 November 2012






For immediate release Thursday, 15 November 2012



Keller Group plc

Interim Management Statement



Keller Group plc ("Keller" or "the Group"), the international ground engineering specialist, issues this Interim Management Statement covering the period from 1 July to 14 November 2012.



Overview



The Group has performed strongly in the four months to the end of October, with results exceeding the Board's expectations and ahead of the same period last year. Accordingly, our second-half results are expected to build on the improvements we reported in the first half of 2012.



This further progress is being driven primarily by our North American business where we are taking advantage of a gradual improvement in the construction market. In Asia, the Group is also trading well and elsewhere in the world, where market conditions are more challenging, our businesses are proving resilient: in EMEA, actions taken in the first half of the year will result in a much improved second half, whilst Australia is trading ahead of last year. All divisions have seen further benefits from the business improvement initiatives announced in February, particularly those focusing on strengthening risk management and increasing our participation in large projects.



For the Group as a whole, project awards since the half year have remained at a healthy level and the order book at the end of October was around 10% above last year.



The Group's 2012 full-year revenue is expected to be around £1.3bn, in line with market expectations. However, the Board now expects the 2012 full-year profit before tax to be significantly above the current range of market expectations.



Divisional Review



North America



The US construction market as a whole continues to show solid growth, albeit not at the levels experienced in the first few months of 2012, which benefitted from very benign weather. In the nine months to the end of September, residential construction was up 12% year-on-year and new housing starts were up around 25%. Non-residential construction was up by 7% in the same period. This growth was driven entirely by private expenditure; public expenditure on construction was down 3% year-on-year. Within private construction spend, the power segment has remained particularly strong and our focus on transmission line work means that we have been able to increase our exposure to this segment.



Against this backdrop, our North American business has been busy, with revenue growth for the financial year expected to outperform the growth in the construction market as a whole for 2012. The first-half recovery in Suncoast is continuing through the second half, with profitability steadily improving as volumes increase. Within our foundation contracting businesses, despite continuing overcapacity in many regions and market segments, margins are improving as the Group benefits from the refocusing of our business and our emphasis on higher-margin segments. The 2012 results have also benefitted from a good performance on several large projects.



Whilst we experienced some short-term disruption to our businesses in the North East of the US as a result of Hurricane Sandy, this is not expected to have a material impact on financial performance.



Europe, Middle East & Africa (EMEA)



In Europe, market conditions remain very challenging in most markets. Within the Middle East, Saudi Arabia has remained steady and we are seeing recent signs of increased activity in other parts of the region.



Across our EMEA division, we have cut costs and restructured businesses to a size and structure commensurate with their depressed markets. These measures, together with good progress on our major infrastructure projects in the UK and Poland, mean that the second-half result for the division will, as expected, be much improved on the first half.



Asia



Overall, our Asian markets have remained strong, helped by high levels of public spending on construction in Singapore and Malaysia. We have made excellent progress on our major project for Vale in Malaysia, which we are on track to complete in the first half of 2013. In India, a slowdown in the rate of economic growth, combined with high interest rates and political uncertainty, has pushed back several large infrastructure projects and led to lower volumes. For the region as a whole, the full year result should be in line with expectations.



Australia



The market conditions in Australia continue to reflect the two-speed economy, with the resources sector remaining strong, while infrastructure, commercial and residential remain depressed. Within the resources sector, the recent fall in iron ore prices has fed speculation as to whether forthcoming projects will go ahead as planned, although our existing LNG projects remain unaffected.



Our Australian business has made good progress on a number of large projects, including the Australia Pacific LNG Marine Off-loading Facility at Gladstone, where we are on target to complete our work ahead of schedule. In addition, we recently successfully completed our test piling programme for the major Wheatstone on-shore piling project.







Financial Position



There has been no material change in the financial position of the Group since the interim results announcement on 30 July 2012.



Outlook



For the Group as a whole, the full-year revenue is expected to be around £1.3bn, in line with market expectations. However, the Board now expects the 2012 full-year profit before tax to be significantly above the current range of market expectations.



Looking further ahead, at a macroeconomic level the outlook remains extremely uncertain. Europe continues to face a number of economic and political challenges, whilst the rate of growth in much of Asia appears to be slowing. In the US, where the construction market and economy as a whole are in the early stages of recovery, this recovery is threatened by the "fiscal cliff".



Despite this backdrop, the Board believes that corporate actions taken in recent years mean that the Group is better placed than ever to face whatever economic headwinds may materialise. Longer term, we remain confident that our strategy and our strengths will underpin sustained future growth.



Keller will issue a pre-close statement in respect of the year ending 31 December 2012 on 18 December 2012.

looks good,lets see at 8am

Going down good with investors up 9.5%

Keller will issue a pre-close statement in respect of the year ending 31 December 2012 on 18 December 2012.

Keller exceeds board's expectations

15 November 2012 | 08:56am

StockMarketWire.com - International ground engineering specialist Keller Group performed strongly in the four months to the end of October.

The group said results exceeded the board's expectations and were ahead of the corresponding period last year and its second-half results are expected to build on the improvements reported in the first half.

Keller says this further progress is being driven primarily by its North American business where its taking advantage of a gradual improvement in the construction market.

At 8:56am: [LON:KLR] Keller Group share price was +77.5p at 644.5p

FLASH: Numis upgrades Keller Group from add to buy, target price unchanged at 691p

15 November 2012 | 12:23pm

StockMarketWire.com -

Keller Group: Goldman Sachs upgrades from neutral to buy.

Interview with Justin Atkinson, Chief Executive

http://www.keller.co.uk/media.aspx

Watching the video, they seem to me to be counting on the USA turn around.

Keller: Panmure Gordon ups target price from 350p to 570p and maintains a hold rating.

Meantime, and on the company front, international ground engineering specialist Keller Group will release results on Tuesday. A series of upbeat trading statements have resulted in positive earnings momentum this year. While many of its end markets remain difficult, early action on costs and improving efficiency is working, Panmure Gordon wrote on Friday.

Another company on the crest of a wave is Keller (LON:KLR), the international ground engineering specialist, which raised earnings guidance last month.

"While many of its end markets remain difficult, early action on costs and improving efficiency is working. We expect confirmation of a good year with the pre-close update," said Andy Brown, an analyst with Panmure Gordon.

Brown reckons the key issues will be: the construction market outlook; industry capacity - particularly the US; utilisation rates.

07:00


Keller Group PLC - Year End Trading Update


PRN






For immediate release Tuesday, 18 December 2012



Keller Group plc

Year End Trading Update



Keller Group plc ("Keller" or "the Group"), the international ground
engineering specialist, is providing the following routine trading update in
advance of its results for the financial year ending 31 December 2012, to be
announced on 4 March 2013.

In our Interim Management Statement released on 15 November 2012 we reported
that the Group's 2012 full-year revenue was expected to be around £1.3bn, with
full-year profit before tax significantly above the then range of market
expectations.

Since then, overall market and trading conditions have remained largely
unchanged. Accordingly, the Board continues to expect that the full year
results will be in line with the guidance given in November.


For further information, please contact:

Keller Group plc
Justin Atkinson, Chief Executive 020 7616 7575
James Hind, Finance Director

Finsbury
James Leviton, Rowley Hudson 020 7251 3801




Forward-looking Statements

This document contains forward-looking statements which have been made in good
faith based on the information available at the time of its approval. It is
believed that the expectations reflected in these statements are reasonable,
but they may be affected by a number of risks and uncertainties that are
inherent in any forward-looking statement which could cause actual results to
differ materially from those currently anticipated.



Note to Editors

Keller is the world's largest independent ground engineering specialist,
providing technically advanced and cost-effective foundation solutions to the
construction industry. With annual revenue of around £1.3bn, Keller has
approximately 7,000 staff world-wide.

Keller is the market leader in the US and Australia; it has prime positions in
most established European markets; and a strong profile in many developing
markets.

Keller has today announced the appointment of Mr Paul Withers as Senior
Independent Director.

Very near to £7 now

No resistance at £7

A buy tip for 2013 in this weeks shares mag. Primed to benifit from an ongoing recovery in the US residential property market during 2013. After a 138.3% gain in 2012, Keller is one of the best performing FTSE All-share constituents. Analysts are looking for a £44 million pre-tax profit, but this represents a mere 7% improvement on 2012's expected £41million result.According to the estimates from investment bank jefferies, Keller generates around 43% of revenues from the US new build market. The company's £118.9 million debt figuremeans its both operationally and financially geared and it would only take a small positive surprise in revenues to prompt a sizeable profits upgrade. The stock still remains a long way off its £11.70 all-time high
achieved at the peak of the US property market in late 2007. Keller a buy in anticipation of a continuation in the recovery rally.

Strong buying.

Not near its all time high yet