Strukton generated a negative operating income of €5.5 million in the first half-year of 2009, against a positive result of €8.2 million for the same period in 2008. Turnover totalled €544 million (2008: €515 million).
Operating income fell below expectations. This was the result of a provision set aside for a current structural project and for a number of completed utility construction projects awaiting financial closure.
Today’s civil infrastructure market is characterised by a high tendering volume, which is favourable for Strukton Civiel. By contrast, the tendering volume in Dutch rail infrastructure remains low. Strukton Rail has succeeded in compensating for this by exploring higher volumes in Scandinavian markets. In the wake of recession, Strukton Worksphere adopted measures at the start of the year, keeping results in line with expectations. The Strukton Bouw & Vastgoed organisation will be further adjusted to changing market circumstances. Strukton Integrale Projecten is engaged in several infrastructure-related PPP proposals.
Strukton’s order book is consistently full, representing a value of €1.6 billion. We have succeeded in winning a number of significant projects including:
• Hanze Railway (Strukton Rail)
• Kromhout Barracks additional contract (PPP project)
• Management and maintenance contract for practically all of KPN’s office premises (Strukton Worksphere)
• Renovation of Stradivarius Hotel (Strukton Bouw & Vastgoed)
• Harderwijk Car Park (Strukton Civiel)
Additionally, the Avenue2 consortium – consisting of Strukton and Ballast Nedam – will soon commence preparations for the ‘Groene Loper’ plan. This integral green belt plan for the city and motorway of Maastricht, includes construction of the first double-decker road tunnel in the Netherlands. The project exemplifies how, as a full-service provider, Strukton offers sustainable all-inclusive solutions, dares to present innovative concepts and is capable of looking at things from the customer’s perspective along with all the other parties involved.
Based on its healthy order book and traditionally high rate of production in the second half of the year, Strukton intends to secure a stronger position and therefore to contribute favourably towards the results in the second half-year of 2009.