‘Modest’ results for Heijmans

Dutch contractor Heijmans is claiming “modest results in a difficult market”, in its interim results for 2013, with an increase in share capital of nearly 10%, and underlying operating results positive at €2 million.

There was a net loss of €5 million, which it said was partly a result of reorganisation costs.

Turnover at Heijmans, which operates in the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany, dropped to €929 million in first half of this year, from €1.06 million in first half of 2012, while the number of homes sold was 386, compared to 400 in the first half last year. The number of homes sold to private buyers, however, increased.

Roads, civil engineering and the markets in Belgium and Germany were stable, and Heijmans said the non-residential sector was positive, while turnover of property and residential building continued to decline.

The company’s order book was €1.9 billion at 30 June, 2013, down from €2 billion at the end of 2012.

Bert van der Els, chairman of the Heijmans executive board, said, “The market remains tough and challenging. The measures we have taken in non-residential are showing the first tentative signs of having a positive impact.

“The use of our innovative potential is the way to create added value.” He highlighted innovations at the group, particularly Smart Highway, where the road deck includes designs such as Glow-in-the-dark Lining, Dynamic Paint, Interactive Light and Electric Priority Lane.

He said this was a key example, attracting considerable international attention, and added that the group would continue to build on this in the coming period.

“We intend to increase our share capital by almost 10% to strengthen our balance sheet, but also to back-up corporate development and leverage on innovative potential,” said Mr van der Els.