Keller Group PLC (LON:KLR) said trading in the second half of the year has continued in line with the board's full-year expectations but the 2019 outlook is “somewhat mixed” and the ground engineer is to undertake a major restructuring in its Asia Pacific (APAC) region.
In a trading update, the FTSE 250-listed said: “Our main markets remain healthy and our order book remains sound, but as previously indicated the contribution from major projects will be lower than this year.”
READ: Keller Group under a cloud after it warns on profits
The group said North American geotechnical businesses continue to trade in line with expectations and have avoided any material impact from Hurricanes Florence and Michael.
It added that its Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) businesses have performed in line with expectations, demonstrating year on year profitable growth, excluding the reducing beneficial effect from the significant projects in the Middle East and the Caspian.
In APAC, the firm said it has undertaken a strategic review to address losses at its ASEAN and Waterway businesses and are taking immediate actions to downsize the business to focus on those product lines offering the greatest opportunity to leverage its market-leading technologies.
Exceptional restructuring charge of £57mln
Keller said it currently expects to take an exceptional restructuring charge of approximately £57mln in its full-year 2018 results and it estimates the measures will result in a reduction of around 700 employees.
The group also announced that it has successfully negotiated improved terms in the scheduled refinancing of its existing debt facilities which were due to mature in September 2019, by entering into a new syndicated revolving credit facility totalling £375mln.
Alain Michaelis, Keller’s chief executive, said: "We are taking tough but necessary actions to reduce our cost base and exposure to unprofitable market segments, and we are also sharpening our control regime.
“We continue to focus on improving operational performance and remain well positioned to address the long-term market trends in our industry."
Liberum chops target, estimates
In an initial reaction to today’s updates, analysts at Liberum Capital cut their 2019 earnings per share estimates for Keller by 8% and reduced their target price to 980p from 1,150p while maintaining a ‘buy’ rating on the stock.
In a note to clients, the analysts said: “There has been a significant de-rating following the APAC warning in October, as well as general market weakness, and Keller now looks very cheap on a revised CY 19 P/E of 6.8x. A CY 19 FCF yield of 6.8% also looks attractive. However, despite the decisive actions taken by management, we expect a negative reaction today.”
Keller shares closed at 622p on Wednesday.