European job losses to follow US cuts as part of materials group's restructuring as profit falls 30%
黑洞社区 supplies group Wolseley has said it will slash jobs in Europe before the end of July after a 鈥減ronounced slowdown in recent weeks鈥�.
The cuts will follow the loss of 250 jobs in America as the sub-prime debt crisis worsens.
In the nine months to 30 April 2008, pre-tax profit across the group was down 30% while turnover was up 2%.
In Europe trading profit was 6% lower and turnover was up 3%.
A company statement said: 鈥淭hese restructuring actions and other business improvement initiatives should result in annualised cost savings of around 拢70m.鈥�
It will provide details of the cuts in a future announcement, which will make a one-off dent in the company's balance sheet of 拢50m.
Some had feared the group would be forced into a rights issue after gearing reached 84% in January but the level has since inched back to 81%.
The City welcomed the cost cutting given the longer-term market uncertainties.
Kevin Cammack at Kaupthing said shareholders should welcome the 鈥渁ggressive right-sizing鈥� of the company.
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