Pre-close Trading Update

Morgan Sindall PLC 02 July 2007 Morgan Sindall plc Pre-close Trading Update The Board of Morgan Sindall today announces its trading update for the six months to 30 June 2007. The Group's interim results will be announced on Monday 6 August 2007. Trading Overall the Group is experiencing positive market conditions and has traded in line with management's expectations in the first half of the year. Fit Out has continued to experience buoyant markets and the division's order book has further increased since the start of the year. The Board anticipates the fit out market will continue to remain strong through 2007 and consequently the division is expected to deliver strong year on year growth in revenue, ahead of our expectations. Construction's markets are more favourable this year and consequently the division is seeing year on year growth in revenue. Its order book is slightly down on the same period last year, albeit the division has two PFI/PPP schemes at preferred bidder stage on which the Board expects to reach financial close in the near future. Infrastructure Services' revenue is growing strongly, as anticipated, as it delivers the major new schemes secured last year. As previously announced, the division's margin is expected to be below the historic levels of 2% this year as the balance of its workload is towards schemes at an early stage of delivery when profit recognition is more conservative. Affordable Housing has been successful in securing its first social housing PFI during the first half of the year and continues to see a healthy pipeline of Decent Homes and mixed-tenure opportunities. The Group's current forward order book, excluding the impact from the recent proposed acquisition, is £3.6bn, an increase of 9% since the beginning of the year, reflecting key schemes being secured by each of the divisions over the past six months. The Board expects average cash balances for the six months to 30 June 2007 to be higher than in the previous year. Overall the outlook remains very encouraging with growth in all our markets. Further to the announcement on 4 June, a circular seeking approval from shareholders for the acquisition of Amec Developments ('ADL') and and Amec Design and Project Services ('DPS') will be sent to shareholders shortly, with an EGM convened for late July 2007 and completion expected shortly thereafter. John Morgan, Executive Chairman commented: 'The Group is entering a new stage in its development. All of our businesses are performing well and we are very excited by the impact that the proposed acquisition of DPS and ADL will make. These acquisitions take the Group into the growing market of mixed-use urban regeneration and strengthens the Group's position in the UK's construction market.' 2 July 2007 Enquiries: Morgan Sindall plc Tel: 020 7307 9200 Paul Smith, Chief Executive David Mulligan, Finance Director College Hill Tel: 020 7457 2020 Matthew Smallwood This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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