But firm says initiative is beginning to make inroads into its debt pile
Kier has said the expense of rolling out its Future Proofing Kier strategy will cost the firm 拢10m more than it saved in the first half.
In a statement issued ahead of it AGM this lunchtime, the firm said: 鈥淎s anticipated, the costs of implementing the FPK programme in the first half of the financial year are forecast to exceed the realised savings by approximately 拢10m.鈥�
But the 拢4.5bn turnover firm said the programme, designed to streamline the business and help cut its debt pile, was making decent progress.
It said it was anticipating average monthly net debt of approximately 拢390m for the first half of its current financial year, compared with approximately 拢410m for the second half of 2018 which ended in June.
It added: 鈥淭he level of net debt is increasingly a key focus for stakeholders in the industry and the board recognises the importance of a strong balance sheet.鈥�
Yesterday Kier announced it had raised 拢24m by selling its stake in a JV providing road maintenance in Australia.
The sale amounts to a hefty chunk of the 拢30-50m Kier plans to pocket from disposal of non-core businesses. The group is targeting a 拢250m net debt figure by July 2021.
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