| 30-11-06 |
| TRADING STATEMENT Murray & Roberts, South Africa’s leading engineering and construction group, today released a trading update through the Stock Exchange News Service (SENS) of The JSE Limited. “Shareholders are referred to the Business Update published on SENS following the annual general meeting on 25 October 2006. The strong performance experienced during the second half of the previous financial year continues and has been enhanced by the acquisition of Concor Limited with effect from 1 July 2006 and a return to profitability in Construction SADC and associate company Clough Limited. Diluted headline earnings per share (“HEPS”) for the six months to 31 December 2006 is expected to show an increase of between 60% and 80% over the 65 cents (excluding the effect of the Group’s BBBEE transaction) (“Adjusted HEPS”) recorded in the previous comparable period. Shareholders are reminded that the Group’s BBBEE transaction concluded in December 2005 reduced HEPS to 42 cents in the previous comparable period. Revenue remains strong and is expected to grow between 40% and 60% full year-on-year with comparable growth in Adjusted HEPS. This Trading Statement has not been audited or reviewed and is provided in terms of paragraph 3.4(b) of the JSE Listings Requirements.” Group Chief Executive Brian Bruce says “A combination of consistent growth in almost all the Group’s market sectors, combined with more major project opportunities and solid performances by all the Group’s operational leadership teams, has contributed to improved sentiment in and towards the engineering & construction sector”. He noted, however, that “The sector is experiencing some material and human resource constraints, particularly in South Africa, which has introduced new but not insurmountable leadership challenges to the Group”. For further information contact: Murray & Roberts Client Services |
