Anybody trading in these shares? I just bought some @ 204.72

RNS Number : 3788U
Balfour Beatty PLC
21 December 2011



21 December 2011

BALFOUR BEATTY PLC

BALFOUR BEATTY AWARDED MELBOURNE RAIL CONTRACT

Balfour Beatty, the global infrastructure group, announces that, in an alliance with Thiess and Sinclair Knight Merz, it has been awarded an A$835 million (£535 million) contract for works on the Footscray to Deer Park section of the Regional Rail Link project in Melbourne, Australia. Balfour Beatty has a 35% share in the alliance in which it will play a vital role by combining its rail infrastructure capabilities and its professional services through Parsons Brinckerhoff.

The alliance partners will work with the Regional Rail Link Authority, Metro Trains Melbourne (MTM) and V/Line to design and construct the first major new rail line for metropolitan Melbourne in 80 years. Considered a critical component of Melbourne's rail network, the Regional Rail Link will separate regional trains from metropolitan trains for the first time, giving trains dedicated tracks and hence, increasing capacity and reliability.

The project involves the construction of 7.5 kilometres of new track, rail bridges, a new station at West Footscray, and upgrades and improvements to the current infrastructure. Balfour Beatty will put in place the rail systems including signalling and track and will act as the programme manager for the project. Major works are expected to commence in early 2012.

Balfour Beatty Chief Executive, Ian Tyler, said: "The Melbourne rail contract win is really pleasing from a number of perspectives. Firstly, as a global player in rail technology, we are pleased to play a part in this historical development for rail in Australia - a buoyant market where we are developing a healthy market position.

"Furthermore, it is rewarding to see our strategy in action. We have harnessed our skills and capabilities in rail as well as in Parsons Brinckerhoff to gain a position as a joint-venture partner in the design and construction of a complex rail project. This win aptly demonstrates the success of our strategy to integrate the Group's capabilities to manage complexity for our customers."

ENDS

Contract.

BALFOUR BEATTY SECURES MAJOR EXTENSION TO
NATIONAL GRID FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT

Balfour Beatty, the international infrastructure group, has secured a five-year extension to its existing contract with National Grid to maintain and upgrade the UK's electricity transmission network in an agreement worth up to £750 million.

The contract, involving design, programme management, construction and technical support for National Grid's electricity network, draws on a wide range of Balfour Beatty resources. It further demonstrates the Group's infrastructure capabilities, particularly in areas where clients face large and complex challenges.

Balfour Beatty and National Grid formed the Electricity Alliance East (EAE) partnership five years ago to secure the long-term stability of much of the UK network. Work involves the ongoing maintenance and refurbishment of overhead transmission lines, as well as designing and delivering National Grid's upgrade plans across the network.

Commenting on the announcement, Balfour Beatty Chief Executive, Ian Tyler, said:

"National Grid is one of our longest held relationships and we are delighted at their decision to extend the long-term partnership with Balfour Beatty.

"This further reinforces a strong, strategic alliance bringing continuing value as well as ongoing certainty to a core element of the UK's infrastructure."

ENDS

BALFOUR BEATTY TRADING UPDATE

Balfour Beatty plc, the international infrastructure group, is providing this trading update in advance of its results for the year ended 31 December 2011 which will be announced on 8 March 2012.

Trading

Further to our Interim Management Statement of 10 November 2011, overall trading remains in line with our expectations.

Order book remained stable over the year despite weak market conditions in some of our core markets at a level in excess of £15 billion. During the year, Support Services and US Construction order books increased while the UK Construction order book contracted.

Other matters

Following our previously announced decision to dispose of our 25.5% effective interest in Barking Power Limited, we sold the asset to the Balfour Beatty Pension Fund at book value of £55 million. The transaction was completed in December 2011 by way of a £55 million additional contribution to the pension fund; this reduced the pension deficit and enabled the fund to make the purchase.

Our average net cash for the year was approximately £200 million reflecting investments completed during the year and cyclical unwind of working capital. Year-end net cash was at a similar level to that at the half-year.

Outlook

We continue to manage the business on the basis that conditions in our core markets will remain difficult while positioning the Group to take advantage of the positive medium and long-term prospects for infrastructure markets.

ENDS

BALFOUR BEATTY JOINT VENTURE AWARDED NETWORK RAIL SIGNALLING FRAMEWORKS

Balfour Beatty, the international infrastructure group, announces that Signalling Solutions Limited (SSL), its 50/50 joint venture with Alstom, has been successful in the tendering process for the new signalling frameworks on behalf of Network Rail.

BALFOUR BEATTY AWARDED COMMERICAL PROPERTY
SCHEMES TOTALLING £100 MILLION

THALES-BALFOUR BEATTY CONSORTIUM AWARDED £335 MILLION
DANISH RAIL SIGNALLING CONTRACT

Balfour Beatty, the international infrastructure group, announces today that in consortium with Thales, it has been awarded a £335m contract by the railway operator and developer in Denmark, Banedanmark, to transform much of the country's rail signalling system.

Balfour Beatty Rail and Thales will form a collaborative and integrated team to deliver this exciting project covering approximately 60% of Denmark's railway network. Balfour Beatty's part in the contract, which is valued at £90m, involves an integrated approach to the project by its Rail division in signalling installation, complemented by programme management services from Parsons Brinckerhoff.

Following the European Union rail network directive, which requires operators to upgrade train protection systems, Banedanmark has opted to replace its existing signalling system with a new, technologically advanced system aimed at improving efficiency, safety and punctuality.

Commenting on the award, Balfour Beatty Chief Executive, Ian Tyler, said:

"This award represents further evidence of both the geographic reach and technical capability of the teams in our Rail and Professional Services divisions, the combined skills of which were critical in securing this award. Working in partnership with our colleagues at Thales, we look forward to helping create a new benchmark for rail signalling performance on behalf of this valued client."

ENDS

A good start for the week, so far today.

I like these results on Thursday .......

Waiting in anticipation.

Anticipate no more!

Full Year Results.

Highlights

· Strong performance demonstrates the diversity, flexibility and resilience of our business
· Order book stable at £15.2bn
· Revenue1 up 5%; up 6% on a constant currency basis and 4% on an organic basis
· Underlying profit from operations improved in all divisions except for Construction Services
· Existing cost efficiency programme delivering, with £15m of savings in 2011; a further £50m pa of savings targeted through a broader programme over the next three years
· £20m gain from infrastructure investment disposals; Directors' valuation of the PPP portfolio increased to £743m
· Earnings per share up 9%; dividend increased by 9% to 13.8p
· Net cash position strong at £340m

JV lands GBP507 million Hong Kong airport contract

Balfour Beatty, the international infrastructure group, announces today that Gammon Construction, the market-leading contractor in Hong Kong in which Balfour Beatty has a 50% shareholding, has been awarded a HK$6.2 billion (£507 million) development contract at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA). This is the biggest "solo" contract ever awarded to Gammon Construction and, coming on the back of other recent significant contract awards, is further evidence of the growth potential in this market.

BALFOUR BEATTY SECURES £230 MILLION
PPP HOUSING PROJECT WITH US AIR FORCE

Balfour Beatty, the international infrastructure group, announces today that Balfour Beatty Communities, a division of its US PPP concession arm, has reached financial close on a $362 million (£230 million) project to design, build and renovate 3,268 military homes at four bases in California, Wyoming, Montana and Missouri for the US Department of the Air Force.

350p is my short term target.

Ex-divi this wed, (25th) 8.5p
Not one I have watched before, but seems to be very busy, though not investigated the profitability yet!

I've added some today@ 259p with divi to come I can wait for a return to 320+.
2517

I have been adding from 290.
I think they want their employees to be more flexible/mobile, so the notice.

Directors added many shares recently. I think this is the bottom. Any other views, please?

BBY were trading around 254p ish last week after going ex-divi (8.5p) so whilst not at the very bottom it's quite close, unless you go back to when they briefly touched the 228p ish mark. They have won many contracts and have a decent divi. Also see post 95 to have an idea of what I think about BBY. Good luck
2517

I see a trading statement is due next wednesday (9th)
2517

Interim Management Statement.

Trading

Overall, performance has been consistent with the outlook given at the time of the full-year results.
Our order book, supported by good wins in the international businesses and growth verticals, has been maintained at a level in excess of £15 billion and continues to give us good visibility.
We are seeing some signs of recovery in the US, supported by positive leading indicators for the fifth consecutive month, which we would expect to benefit order intake later in the year. As anticipated, the UK construction market remains challenging.

Operating performance

Professional Services

The Professional Services order book at the end of March was ahead of that at the year-end with new orders in the Middle East and steady progress in the Americas.
Revenue was in line with expectations with the slowdown in the UK being offset by good revenue growth in the Americas, particularly in the transportation and power industry verticals. The Australian business continued to develop its mining practice in line with our vertical strategy with wins such as the Cobbora Mine EPCM project and good operational delivery.
Performance stabilised in the UK owing largely to the initiatives the business implemented in 2011 to align costs with the lower volume of activity in the market. Overall, Professional Services is expected to make progress in the year.