AGM Statement

Galliford Try PLC 31 October 2003 31 October 2003 GALLIFORD TRY PLC ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING STATEMENT Tony Palmer, Chairman of Galliford Try plc, will make the following comments at the annual general meeting of the Company to be held at 12:00 noon today: 'Since announcing our results for the year to 30 June, the Group has continued to build on the momentum generated in the second half of last year. We are making our anticipated progress and I would reiterate the comment I made in my Chairman's statement that this would form the basis for the directors' expectation of paying a progressive dividend for this financial year. Against this background, the board announced on 30 September that it had rejected an indicative and highly conditional proposal from Rok property solutions to acquire the Company at 51p per share. At Rok's request, we met with them early last week. During the meeting Rok reconfirmed its proposal of 51p per share but indicated that it would consider a price of up to 54p per share depending on the outcome of due diligence. The proposal was confirmed to us in writing on 27 October. It remains highly conditional, particularly in respect of financing and due diligence, with the price to be satisfied as to £25-30 million in new Rok shares and the balance in cash. Rok has indicated that it would be prepared to offer an underwritten cash alternative at an unspecified discount for the share element. As at yesterday, £30 million represents over 45% of Rok's market capitalisation. The board, together with its advisers, has carefully considered this proposal. It firmly believes that it cannot be recommended to shareholders as it significantly undervalues the Company. Accordingly the proposal is rejected. The board is determined to deliver on its obligation to maximise value for shareholders. We are pro-actively considering, with our advisers, how this can best be achieved. We will also continue to consider carefully any proposal that is put to us. Moving now to our operating performance, I am pleased to report that the good progress being made by our construction division has continued. The streamlined management structure and the rationalisation of the division into six clearly focussed business units put in place following the appointment of Andy Sturgess as Managing Director of construction early this year is working well. We are now seeing the benefits of a more efficient cost base. We are winning new work in exactly the market sectors we are targeting. The award in September of our contract as part of the consortium to deliver Scottish Water's four year, £1.8 billion asset management project cemented our position as one of the top five construction providers to the water industry. We are already working on the project's first schemes. Our position as leaders in partnership contracting has also been endorsed in the last month by our selection as preferred construction partner on our first NHS local improvement finance trust project for Coventry primary care trust, with an initial workload of £42 million. We anticipate announcing preferred partner appointments on a further two LIFT projects shortly. Overall, our current order book is £664 million of which 76% is in the public and regulated sectors and 87% has been secured on a non competitive basis. Our objective is to make predictable and progressively growing profits from construction. With the work we are winning, and our transformed management structure, the Board is confident that we are on track. Housebuilding has consistently turned in excellent profits. Following a record performance last year, I am pleased to report that sales in the financial year to date are ahead of last year, with a total of £103 million now secured for the year to 30 June 2004, up 11% on a year ago. Our plans envisage significant growth of the division over the medium term based on our extremely successful housebuilding formula. Led by Greg Fitzgerald, appointed Managing Director of housebuilding in July 2003, the objective is to maximise profits by developing our existing regions organically, geographic expansion and acquisition. In the first three months of this financial year we have acquired new sites for a total of 254 homes, and our planned expansion of Midas Homes eastwards has made a good start with three sites for over 100 homes already owned or controlled. The infrastructure on our major joint venture site at Fairfield is well underway. The first two housebuilders have drawn down the initial tranches of land, and Stamford Homes has started production with the first homes scheduled for completion this financial year. We said at the year end that we had consents in place for all our planned production for this financial year. Applications often go to appeal and, last month alone, we obtained consents in the south east for 54 units on three brownfield sites, with the planning inspectors citing quality of design and best use of the site in all cases. With reasonable market conditions continuing, we expect to make progress for the remainder of the year. The Group has made an excellent start to the new financial year. We have clear strategies in both construction and housebuilding and a management team that has the determination and ability to drive the business forward. The Group now has real momentum. Tony Palmer Chairman The Directors of Galliford Try plc accept responsibility for the information set out above. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the Directors (who have taken all reasonable care to ensure that such is the case) the information set out above is in accordance with the facts and does not omit anything likely to affect the import of such information. Enquiries: Ann-marie Wilkinson/James Chandler 07730 415019/0207 398 3300 Beattie Financial This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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