Would anyone know why there has been such a large number of shares sold and no buying? Is there something we are not aware of?

Re Contract


Costain Appointed to £288m Magnox Framework Contract

Magnox has awarded a framework contract worth around £288 million for the delivery of construction, infrastructure and maintenance projects across all 10 sites which are operated by Magnox on behalf of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority.

The framework is worth approximately £30m per annum for up to ten years: an initial five years with the option to extend for a further five years by mutual agreement amongst the parties. Costain is one of two companies on the framework.

The project work which Costain will deliver includes: the design, construction and maintenance of permanent buildings and structures, infrastructure maintenance and extension works incorporating construction, civil engineering structures and ground works projects.

This framework contract builds on the work Costain is already carrying out for Magnox. In June 2011 the Group announced that, as part of a joint venture with AMEC and Jacobs Engineering Group Inc, it had been included on a framework to retrieve and process both wet and solid intermediate level radioactive waste across all the Magnox sites in the UK.

construction and civil engineering company Costain Group hit a peak of 251p today, and is currently just a shade below that on 249p. Last month's interim results were strong, showing a 16% rise in underlying operating profit, and that helped the shares to a 32% rise from early June, and 38% since November's 52-week low. But it's been volatile, with a brief peak approaching today's price in March.

Forecasts look pretty good, and the shares are on a forward P/E of 8 with a 4.4% dividend pencilled in. The firm has net cash, so there's no debt to worry about.

At long last one of my stocks is rising...makes a change...

Interim Management Statement

Overview

Following its strong performance in the first half of 2012, the Group is continuing to perform well, in line with the Board's expectations.

The Group's strategy is to focus its resources on meeting the integrated service requirements of major customers, whose spending plans are underpinned by national needs, regulatory commitments or essential maintenance requirements and who are continuing to invest significantly in those requirements. The Group's strong relationships with its customers are underlined by the fact that over 90% of the Group's forward order book is made up of repeat orders.

During the period the Group has secured further contract awards and extensions including an appointment by Magnox to a framework contract worth around £288 million over a ten year period for the delivery of construction, infrastructure and maintenance projects across all ten sites operated by Magnox on behalf of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority.

Costain continues to expand its support service related activities, both organically and by benefitting from the capabilities secured through the acquisition of two businesses last year. Currently 28% of revenues secured for 2012 comprise support service activities and this is expected to continue to grow.

Order book

The Group's forward order book currently stands at £2.4 billion. As well as including over £650 million of revenues secured for 2013 the order book also provides good long-term visibility with circa £1.6 billion of revenues secured for 2014 and beyond, the balance of the order book being for the remainder of 2012.

The Group has also maintained a strong preferred bidder position of c. £400 million.

The overall level of tendering activity across the Group's targeted markets remains high.

Financial position

There has been no material change in the robust financial status of the Group, which continues to have a strong net cash position and no significant borrowings.

Outlook

Costain is meeting the integrated service requirements of major customers, who are continuing to invest in essential infrastructure projects. Despite the on-going challenging economic conditions, Costain remains on course to deliver a result for the year in line with the Board's expectations.

On my watch list this one and a nice little trading range by the looks of their chart.

Contract Win

Costain Secures Three Additional Highways Appointments

Costain, a leading engineering solutions provider, is pleased to announce that it has been awarded a four-year technology contract by the Welsh Government and has also been appointed onto both lots of the Highways Agency Asset Support Framework.

Highways Technology Contract

The four-year technology contract, worth around £15m, is for the maintenance of Road Network Communications and Tunnel Systems across Wales. It involves routine maintenance and fault repair of technology systems such as CCTV cameras, variable messaging signs (VMS), emergency telephones and traffic signals and includes the strategic routes of the M4, A55, and Conwy tunnels.

Costain will commence the new service in early 2013, following a transition and handover period.

Costain Annual Report Wins Investor Relations Award

21 November 2012

Costain has been recognised at a prestigious investor relations awards ceremony in London for its latest Annual Report.

Costain won the Most Effective Overall Annual Report (Printed and Online) in the Small Cap & AIM category at the Investor Relations Society’s (IR Society) Best Practice Awards held at The Pavilion, The Tower of London, on 20th November 2012.

Now in its 12th year, the IR Society Best Practice Awards recognise and reward best practice in investor communications, both online and in print.

The awards, which were attended by around 450 people from across the investor relations and corporate communications industry, were compered and presented by former Conservative Party politician and Cabinet Minister Michael Portillo.

The IR Society is the professional body for those involved in investor relations and is the focal point for investor relations in the UK.

The awards’ winners are determined through a robust, three-part review process. All entries are reviewed and scored against a checklist, based on the Society’s Best Practice guidelines, and the specific criteria for each award, set out in the awards entry form.

Commenting on the award, the judges said: “Costain Group presented a clear and easy to navigate report with the Remuneration Committee content being a particular feature.”

Investor relations is a strategic management function that incorporates finance, communication, marketing and strict compliance with stock exchange listing rules to enable the most effective two-way communication between a company, the financial community, its shareholders and stakeholders.

Costain started to integrate its financial and corporate responsibility reporting into its Annual Report four years ago.

This allowed shareholders and other stakeholders to better gauge how the company performed financially and, through the successful implementation of Costain Cares initiative launched in May 2011, see how it conducted its business in the communities in which it operated.

Catherine Warbrick, Costain’s Corporate responsibility Director, said: “We are delighted to have been recognised by the Investor Relations Society for our 2011 Annual Report, which showcases our approach to business. Through Costain Cares we are building a more responsible, longer-term sustainable business that creates economic, environmental and social value for all stakeholders.”

To view the 2011 Annual Report and see what caught the judges’ eyes, please click on the following link:

/media/314732/costain_ar11.pdf

FTO should win prize for the worst reports!!

Nice reading today with good price rise:

Major Leap For The Costain Group

3 December 2012

The Costain Group has leapt 70 places in the official league table for Britain’s Most Admired Companies.

Management Today magazine has announced the Most Admired League Table for 2012, comprising a total of 254 companies, and the Costain Group is in 61st position ahead of such names as Tesco, Carillion, Marks & Spencer, Barclays, Sir Robert McAlpine, Laing O’Rourke, Investec, WH Smith, Standard Life and Legal and General Group. In 2011, Costain was positioned 131.

The League Table is compiled in conjunction with Birmingham City Business School. Management Today magazine asked Britain’s largest public companies in 26 sectors to evaluate their peers.

Re Contract

Costain Joint Venture awarded £48m Network Rail contract

Costain (COST.LN), one of the UK's leading engineering solutions providers, is pleased to announce that it has been awarded a £48m contract with Network Rail for Phase Three of the West Coast Power Supply Upgrade, which is part of a c£300m investment by Network Rail in power upgrade.

The project will be delivered by ABC Electrification, a Joint Venture ('JV') between Costain, Alstom and Babcock. The JV brings together global electrification experience, large scale UK rail capability and major programme management expertise. The contract is part of Network Rail's £9.4bn investment in electrifying British railways. The works in the North West of England will safely support more frequent services and the longer trains that are planned for the West Coast Mainline.

Work will commence in early 2013 and is expected to complete in 2016.

RNS Number : 0719Y

Costain Group PLC

18 February 2013

Costain Group PLC

("Costain" or "the Group" or "the Company")

Costain Joint Venture Awarded GBP110 million Crossrail Contract

Costain, one of the UK's leading engineering solutions providers, is pleased to announce that in Joint Venture ('JV') with Skanska it has been awarded a Crossrail contract to construct the main station works at Bond Street Station, worth approximately GBP110 million.

The project will involve the main construction, platform fit-out and Mechanical and Electrical services for the Western Ticket Hall in Davies Street and the Eastern Ticket Hall in Hanover Square. It follows on from the contract already awarded to the JV and announced in March 2011, for the initial construction of the structure of the station.

Work will commence this month and is expected to complete in February 2017 ahead of Crossrail's opening in 2018.

Andrew Wyllie, Chief Executive of Costain, commented,

'This contract awarded to Costain by Crossrail is, we believe, further demonstration of the successful implementation of our 'Choosing Costain' strategy, in which we focus on building long term relationships with and winning repeat works from blue chip customers who are spending billions on meeting vital infrastructure needs. This contract further contributes to the strength of our order book, which comprises approximately 90% repeat business.'

Good contact skinny!

" It follows on from the contract already awarded to the JV and announced in March 2011, for the initial construction of the structure of the station."

Crossrail obviously happy with Costain/Skanska.

Costain languishing at present price levels, should be 300p+ now.... results will prove the companies worth.
IMO

It looks like your faith is paying off!

skinny, hope so but I am due a long service award for my faith! LOL

Nice sustained and sustainable rise. I've been in since 220 and I reckon these will go a lot, lot higher as the economy recovers. Solid company, solid balance sheet. I just wish they would do something about the yield - and I don't mean halving the share price either. A good outlook and a decent divi increase with next months results should see us clear 300p.

Final Results

Highlights

· Underlying operating profit2 up 4% to £25.1 million (2011: £24.1 million)

· Increase of 16% in adjusted profit before tax3 to £29.5 million (2011: £25.5 million)

· Adjusted basic earnings per share3 up 33% to 41.4 pence (2011: 31.1 pence), reflecting increased profits and a non-recurring tax timing benefit

· £105.7 million year-end net cash balance (2011: £140.1 million) and average month-end cash balance of £103.4 million (2011: £130.4 million)

· High quality forward order book of £2.4 billion, in excess of 90% from repeat orders including new awards and extensions to existing contracts (2011: £2.5 billion)

· Increase to over £700 million of revenue secured for 2013 as at 31 December 2012 (2011: over £650 million secured for 2012)

· Recommended increase in final dividend for the sixth successive year, taking the total for the year to 10.75 pence, a 7.5% increase on the prior year

Super set of figures, skinny.

Especially now they are correct! :-)

Recommended all-share merger

Recommended all-share merger
of Costain Group PLC and May Gurney Integrated Services plc

Highlights

· The Boards of Costain Group PLC ('Costain') and May Gurney Integrated Services plc ('May Gurney') are pleased to announce that they have reached agreement on the terms of a recommended all-share merger of Costain and May Gurney, which is to be implemented by way of a scheme of arrangement of May Gurney pursuant to which Costain will acquire the entire issued and to be issued ordinary share capital of May Gurney.

· Upon the Merger becoming effective, Costain, whose shares will continue to have a premium listing and to be traded on the London Stock Exchange's Main Market for listed securities, will be renamed 'Costain May Gurney PLC'.

· Each May Gurney Shareholder will receive 0.8275 New Costain Shares for every Scheme Share held, resulting in Costain Shareholders holding approximately 53% and May Gurney Shareholders holding approximately 47% of the issued share capital of Costain at the time the Merger becomes effective.

· The Merger will bring together two businesses with complementary service offerings to create one of the UK's leading integrated services providers to the rail, highways, water, waste, airports, hydrocarbons, power, nuclear, local government and fleet management sectors.

· The Boards of Costain and May Gurney believe that the Combined Group will have:

− a focus on delivering innovative and cost-effective solutions to address essential national needs in the sectors in which Costain and May Gurney operate;

− a larger addressable market, with a combined client base across the private sector, central and local government and regulated industries;

− an enhanced range of capabilities to meet customers' changing demands;

− the ability to benefit from the respective strengths of the Costain and May Gurney brands, which will continue to be used as required by customers;

− greater financial strength and scale, increasing the opportunity to bid for larger, more complex and multi-disciplinary contracts;

− the opportunity to leverage the best talent of the Costain Group and the May Gurney Group;

− significant earnings visibility underpinned by long term contracts and a combined order book of approximately £3.9 billion; and

− combined revenues of approximately £1.6 billion per annum.

· Based on its preliminary analysis, the Board of Costain believes that the Combined Group should be able to achieve recurring annual pre-tax cost synergies of approximately £10 million as a result of the Merger, primarily through savings stemming from the consolidation of corporate functions and shared services, with approximately £7.5 million expected to be realised in the financial year ending 31 December 2014 and the full £10 million in the financial year ending 31 December 2015.

· Post synergies, the Costain Directors expect the Merger to be double digit earnings enhancing[1] for Costain for the financial year ending 31 December 2014.[2]

1 Before amortisation of acquired intangibles, employment-related deferred consideration and integration costs.

2 Neither this statement nor the statements in the preceding paragraph relating to cost synergies are intended as profit forecasts. They should not be interpreted to mean that earnings per Costain Share or May Gurney Share for the current or future financial years would necessarily match or exceed the historical published earnings per Costain Share or May Gurney Share.

· The Combined Group will have a proven management team led by the current Costain CEO, Andrew Wyllie, as the Combined Group CEO and the current Costain Finance Director, Tony Bickerstaff, as the Combined Group Finance Director.

· David Allvey will be the Chairman of the Combined Group and Baroness Margaret Ford will be the Deputy Chairman. Following the Merger becoming effective, the Board of Costain will include all of the current Non-executive Directors of Costain and May Gurney, and Ishbel Macpherson, currently the Senior Independent Director of May Gurney, will be the Senior Independent Director of the Combined Group.

· The Combined Group's headquarters and registered office will be located at Costain's office in Maidenhead. May Gurney's office in Trowse in Norfolk will be retained as a shared services centre and the operational office for the Combined Group's hub in East Anglia.

· May Gurney intends to declare a second interim dividend of 5.6 pence per May Gurney Share in lieu of a final dividend for the year ending 31 March 2013. This dividend, which will be conditional upon the Merger becoming effective, will be paid after the Effective Date to May Gurney Shareholders on the register of members at the Scheme Record Time.

· On 6 March 2013 the Board of Costain announced that it was recommending, subject to Costain Shareholder approval, a final dividend of 7.25 pence per Costain Share in respect of the financial year ended 31 December 2012. If approved, the final dividend will be paid on 24 May 2013 to Costain Shareholders on the register of members as at the close of business on 19 April 2013. The New Costain Shares to be issued pursuant to the Merger will not carry any entitlement to the Costain final dividend in respect of the financial year ended 31 December 2012.

· The Merger is conditional on, amongst other things, the approval of Costain Shareholders and May Gurney Shareholders.

I sold out today Skinny. I got 303p which is a handsome profit on my purchase price of 223p in less than a year. I am taking a long hard look at CLLN as a replacement. Any talk of a bidding war for MAYG will have a negative effect on COST and absorb a lot of management time, even if they prove successful.