Contractor says underlying profitability has improved

Osborne鈥檚 pre-tax profit has nearly halved after the contractor closed a number of legacy contracts.

In financial results for the year to March this year, pre-tax profit fell 46% to 拢3m, down from 拢5.6m the previous year, on revenue of 拢342m, up 11% on 拢309m.

The contractor, led by chief executive Andy Steele (pictured), said the underlying profitability of both its infrastructure and property businesses improved 鈥渟ignificantly鈥 over the period. But this was offset 鈥渂y the final settlement of a small number of legacy construction projects won during more challenging market conditions鈥.

Osborne - which files accounts as Geoffrey Osborne Limited - said its infrastructure business picked up more orders with clients Network Rail and Highways England over the period. Its overall order book increased 4% to 拢445m.