Kier shares plunge 40% as construction firm issues profit warning

Embattled HS2 and Crossrail contractor reveals earnings to come in £25m lower than expected

Costs for Kier's ‘future-proofing’ project will more than double - costing £29m compared with £14m originally earmarked (Reuters)

Embattled construction firm Kier has issued a shock profit warning, with bosses revealing that returns are expected to be £25m lower than expected.

The company said the highways, utilities, housing maintenance and buildings divisions will be particularly affected and revenues will be flat at around £2.5bn.

Shares in the business plunged more than 40 per cent in early trading Monday to 163.2p – a new all-time low for the firm.

New chief executive Andrew Davies, who is carrying out a review into the business, also revealed that the costs for its “future-proofing” project will more than double – costing £29m compared with £14m originally earmarked.

Bosses at Kier, which is a major contractor for the Crossrail and HS2 railway projects, said the extra costs are due to an “acceleration of the programme” under the new chief.

Mr Davies joined Kier in March and set to work drawing up plans for a major turnaround, after attempts by previous management to raise £250m from shareholders to cut debt and strengthen the balance sheet failed.

The review is expected to be completed by the end of July and had originally said the net savings from the plans would be around £20m by 2020.

Mr Davies was due to take on the top job at failed outsourcer Carillion, but the group went bust before he could take up the role.

The conclusion of his Kier review will be announced in July.

Kier saw shares rise more than 3 per cent to 359.7p after the announcement.

Prior to the ill-fated Carillion appointment, Mr Davies was formerly chief executive of property and construction company Wates Group.

He also previously spent more than 28 years at BAE Systems, latterly as managing director of the maritime division.

The struggling highways, utilities and housing maintenance businesses include laying internet cables for Virgin Media, working with Scottish Water and roadworks on motorways across the country.

PA