5 August 2025

 

Keller Group plc

 

Interim Results for the half year ended 30 June 2025

 

Keller Group plc ('Keller' or the 'Group'), the world's largest geotechnical specialist contractor, announces its results for the half year ended 30 June 2025.

 

Good H1 performance ahead of expectations; FY growth outlook maintained

 

	H1 2025 £m		H1 2024 £m	% change	Constant currency % change
Revenue		1,457.7	1,489.8	-2%	+1%
Underlying operating profit1		102.6	113.2	-9%	-6%
Underlying operating profit margin1		7.0%	7.6%	-60bps	n/a
Underlying diluted earnings per share1		98.1p	103.3p	-5%
Free cash flow before interest and tax		51.6	134.1	-62%
Net debt (bank covenant IAS 17 basis)2		61.5	100.7	-39%
Dividend per share		18.3p	16.6p	+10%
Statutory operating profit		97.3	105.9	-8%
Statutory profit before tax		87.4	95.3	-8%
Net cash inflow from operating activities		41.8	118.9	-65%
Statutory diluted earnings per share		91.8p	94.7p	-3%
Statutory net debt (IFRS 16 basis)		153.5	199.0	-23%

¹ Underlying operating profit and underlying diluted earnings per share are non-statutory measures which provide readers of this Announcement with a balanced and comparable view of the Group's performance by excluding the impact of non-underlying items, as disclosed in note 7 to the interim condensed consolidated financial statements.

² Net debt is presented on a lender covenant basis excluding the impact of IFRS 16 as disclosed within the adjusted performance measures in the interim condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

Highlights

·      A good first half performance ahead of market expectations³, evidencing the sustained improvement in business performance.

·      Performance relative to the strong prior year period reflected the expected normalisation of market conditions in North America, particularly pricing at Suncoast, alongside profitable growth in the Europe and Middle East (EME) and Asia-Pacific (APAC) Divisions.

·      Underlying operating margin remains strong at 7%  (historic five-year H1 average: 4.8%).

·      Net debt² of £61.5m, up £32m since Dec 2024; driven by £25m share buyback and increased working capital investment. Net debt/EBITDA leverage ratio² of 0.2x (H1 2024: 0.3x; FY 2024: 0.1x).

·      Successful completion of an initial £25m tranche of the multi-year share buyback programme in H1. Keller announces its intention to launch an additional tranche of £25m in H2.

·      Underlying ROCE at 26.7% (H1 2024: 28.4%).

·      Strong order book sustained at previous record level of £1.6bn.

·      Accident Frequency Rate reduced to 0.04 with five lost time injuries (H1 2024: 0.08; eight lost time injuries).

·      The Board declares an interim dividend of 18.3p, with the intention of applying a 5% increase in total for 2025.

·      The Board's expectations for full year 2025 maintained, despite the anticipated FX headwind, underpinned by the strong order book.

·      James Wroath joins as Chief Executive Officer on 18 August 2025.

David Burke, Chief Financial Officer, said:

"We have delivered a good first half performance against a strong comparative period, with underlying business performance remaining robust. Our strong balance sheet provides us with flexibility, enabling organic growth as well as targeted M&A, along with further financial returns to shareholders with an increase to the interim dividend and an intention to launch an additional £25m share buyback in the second half. Whilst the geopolitical and macroeconomic volatility continues to create market uncertainty, the Group's improved operational capabilities, strong order book and healthy tendering pipeline give the Board confidence in meeting expectations for full year 2025⁴, despite an anticipated increasing FX headwind in the second half."

 

³ Company compiled consensus underlying operating profit for H1: £97.4m.

⁴ Analyst consensus underlying operating profit for FY 2025: £215m.

 

For further information, please contact:
Keller Group plc	www.keller.com
David Burke, Chief Financial Officer	020 7616 7575
Caroline Crampton, Group Head of Investor Relations
FTI Consulting
Nick Hasell	020 3727 1340
Matthew O'Keeffe

 

A webcast and presentation for investors and analysts will be held at 09.00am BST on 5 August 2025, at:

FTI Consulting

200 Aldersgate Street

London EC1A 4HD

RSVP: connie.gibson@fticonsulting.com

 

The webcast replay will be available later the same day on demand

https://connectstudio-portal.world-television.com/en/687a7ea431be6b1c6956e5d1

 

Conference call: Operator Assisted Dial-In: United Kingdom (Local): +44 20 3481 4247 United Kingdom (Toll-Free): +44 800 260 6466 United States - New York: (646) 307-1963 Conference ID: 4755308

 

Notes to editors:

Keller is the world's largest geotechnical specialist contractor providing a wide portfolio of advanced foundation and ground improvement techniques used across the entire construction sector. With around 10,000 staff and operations across five continents, Keller tackles an unrivalled 5,500 projects every year, generating annual revenue of c.£3bn.

 

Cautionary statements:

This document contains certain 'forward-looking statements' with respect to Keller's financial condition, results of operations and business and certain of Keller's plans and objectives with respect to these items. Forward-looking statements are sometimes, but not always, identified by their use of a date in the future or such words as 'anticipates', 'aims', 'due', 'could', 'may', 'should', 'expects', 'believes', 'intends', 'plans', 'potential', 'reasonably possible', 'targets', 'goal' or 'estimates'. By their very nature, forward-looking statements are inherently unpredictable, speculative and involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that may or will occur in the future. There are a number of factors that could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, changes in the economies and markets in which the Group operates; changes in the regulatory and competition frameworks in which the Group operates; the impact of legal or other proceedings against or which affect the Group; and changes in interest and exchange rates. For a more detailed description of these risks, uncertainties and other factors, please see the principal risks and uncertainties section of the strategic report in the Annual Report and Accounts. All written or verbal forward-looking statements, made in this document or made subsequently, which are attributable to Keller or any other member of the Group, or persons acting on their behalf, are expressly qualified in their entirety by the factors referred to above. The forward-looking statements reflect knowledge and information available at the date of preparation of this announcement and Keller undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements. Nothing in this document should be regarded as a profits forecast. This document is not an offer to sell, exchange or transfer any securities of Keller Group plc or any of its subsidiaries and is not soliciting an offer to purchase, exchange or transfer such securities in any jurisdiction. Securities may not be offered, sold or transferred in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the US Securities Act of 1933 (as amended). 

LEI number: 549300QO4MBL43UHSN10. Classification: 1.2 (Half yearly financial reports)

 

 

Adjusted performance measures

 

In addition to statutory measures, a number of adjusted performance measures (APMs) are included in this Interim Announcement to assist investors in gaining a clearer understanding and balanced view of the Group's underlying results and in comparing performance. These measures are consistent with how business performance is measured internally.

 

The APMs used include underlying operating profit, underlying earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation, underlying net finance costs and underlying earnings per share, each of which are the equivalent statutory measure adjusted to eliminate the amortisation of acquired intangibles and other significant one-off items not linked to the underlying performance of the business. Net debt (bank covenant IAS 17 basis) is provided as a key measure for measuring bank covenant compliance and is calculated as the equivalent statutory measure adjusted to exclude the additional lease liabilities relating to the adoption of IFRS 16. Free cash flow before interest and tax is provided as a metric to reflect operating cash flow including capital expenditure; it is reconciled in the net debt flow table in the Chief Financial Officer's review. Further underlying constant exchange rate measures are given which eliminate the impact of currency movements by comparing the current measure against the comparative restated at this year's actual average exchange rates. Where APMs are given, these are compared to the equivalent measures in the prior year.

 

APMs are reconciled to the statutory equivalent, where applicable, in the adjusted performance measures section in this Announcement.

 

 

GROUP OVERVIEW

 

Financial performance

 

The Group delivered a good first half performance against a strong comparative period in 2024 when our North American business did particularly well. The Group's continued effective execution further evidences the sustainability of the significant operational and financial improvements in the business delivered in recent years.

 

Reported revenue of £1,457.7m was a marginal increase versus the prior year period on a constant currency basis. Underlying operating profit of £102.6m was 6.3% lower on a constant currency basis, driven by an expected decline in North America (NA), partially offset by significant growth in profitability in Europe and Middle East (EME) and Asia-Pacific (APAC). The underlying operating margin remains strong at 7.0% (H1 2024: 7.6%). Driven by the £25m share buyback and increased working capital investment, net debt (IAS 17 lender covenant basis) increased by £32m to £61.5m since December 2024, and reduced by £39.2m, from £100.7m in June 2024. Following the particularly strong cash performance in 2023 and 2024, the cash generation profile has reverted to normal. This equated to a net debt/EBITDA ratio of 0.2x (H1 2024: 0.3x; FY 2024: 0.1x), below our target leverage range of 0.5x-1.5x.

 

On 31 March 2025, the Group launched an initial £25m tranche of the multi-year share buyback programme and completed the process on 29 May 2025, having purchased approximately 1.7m shares in the period.  In addition, given the strength of the Group's balance sheet, Keller announces its intention to launch an additional tranche of £25m in the second half of 2025, part of an ongoing commitment to return capital to shareholders. Following the anticipated share buyback, the Group expects to be approaching net cash by the year-end.

 

Operating performance

 

In NA, revenue was slightly ahead of the prior year at £867.8m and profitability declined by 20.5% to £82.1m on a constant currency basis. The lower margin was driven by the expected price normalisation at the Suncoast post-tension business, and a decline in profitability in the Foundations business following the particularly buoyant market conditions in 2024, offset by an improved performance in Moretrench Industrial. During the period, on a normalised pricing basis, the Foundations business further built on its improvement in underlying contract performance, execution and commercial discipline, delivering consistently across a range of projects. Moretrench Industrial, which operates in the highly regulated environmental remediation market, continued to make good progress, with growth in revenue and profit. At RECON, our geoenvironmental and industrial services company, volume increased while profit decreased due to a continued delay to the permitting of further LNG projects. Whilst there is increased uncertainty over the US construction backdrop, the order book for North America at the period end was strong and similar to the prior year period (on a constant currency basis), within which the US Foundations business has done well in maintaining its work-in-hand levels versus the prior year.

 

In EME, revenue was also similar to the prior year period at £408.3m on a constant currency basis, driven by significant revenue growth in the Middle East and across much of Europe, notably South East Europe and the Baltic countries, and against the comparator of several large infrastructure projects in Europe in the prior period. Underlying operating profit increased significantly to £14.6m on a constant currency basis, reflecting an overall improvement in project execution and operational performance. Profitability benefitted from the non-recurrence of losses incurred from challenging projects in the Middle East and Nordics in the prior year period.

 

In APAC, revenue increased by 2.9% to £181.6m, on a constant currency basis, with revenue growth in Austral partially offset by lower volumes in Keller Australia and Keller Asia¹. Underlying profit grew significantly, by 36.3% to £13.9m, driven by Keller Australia and Austral, including the benefit of several successful project closure settlements at Keller Australia. In the wider region, performance was partially tempered by lower volumes and profits in ASEAN, whilst Keller India continued to perform strongly following its record performance in 2024.

 

¹ As from 1 January 2025, Keller India and ASEAN combined to form Keller Asia.

 

 

Safety

 

The Group has a strong commitment to safety through various initiatives. In the first half of 2025, our Accident

Frequency Rate reduced to 0.04 per 100,000 hours, with five lost time events (H1 2024: 0.08), and our Total Recordable Incident Rate improved to 0.48, with 28 recordable injury events, a reduction of eight on the prior year period.

 

Sustainability and ESG

 

We are progressing well against our carbon measurement and reduction targets. We will be net zero across all three emission scopes by 2050: net zero on Scope 2 by 2030, net zero on Scope 1 by 2040 and net zero by 2050 on Operational Scope 3 (covering business travel, material transport and waste disposal). We are beginning to estimate our Scope 3 material emissions for each of our business units.

 

To mark UN Earth Day, Keller hosted its second Group-wide sustainability week. Themed around 'Keller gives back', the week saw over 1,500 employees engaged across volunteer days, webinars, competitions and toolbox talks.

 

Our People and Safety strategy is driven by our focus on the wellbeing and safety of every employee across the organisation and we continue to look at new ways to sharpen this focus. For example, we recently organised a Group-wide safety stand-down on how we respond to a material change on any given project more safely.

 

As part of our charitable activities, we are delighted to have extended our partnership with UNICEF's Every Child Fund, with a commitment to provide a further £750,000 in funding over the next three years. This partnership will provide the general funding needed to support UNICEF's activities around the world.

 

Board development and succession

 

On 5 March 2025, Carl-Peter Forster succeeded Peter Hill as Chair. Carl-Peter joined the Board as a Non-executive Director and Chair designate on 16 December 2024. Carl-Peter also chairs the Nomination and Governance Committee.

 

On 24 June 2025, it was announced that Michael Speakman, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), had given notice that he will step down as CEO and as a Director of Keller with effect from 18 August 2025 in order to continue his necessary medical treatment. Following a comprehensive search process, the Board announced the appointment of James Wroath as CEO, effective 18 August 2025. James brings a wealth of relevant experience to the role, having most recently served as CEO of Wincanton plc. The Board is confident that he will provide strong leadership and strategic direction as the Group continues to deliver its successful growth strategy.

 

Interim dividend

 

Keller has an unbroken record of dividend payments and has consistently and materially grown its dividend in the 31 years since listing, clearly demonstrating the Group's ability to continue to prosper through economic cycles. With a CAGR of 9% since flotation in 1994, it is one of only a very few FTSE listed companies to have consistently paid a dividend over such a period. The Board is declaring an interim dividend of 18.3p, with the intention of returning to a more normal progressive 5% dividend policy for the 2025 financial year. The Group will revert to the normal balance of the full-year dividend payable 35% as an interim and 65% as the final dividend. The interim dividend is payable on 12 September 2025 to shareholders on the register as at 15 August 2025.

 

Outlook

 

We have delivered a good first half performance against a strong comparative period, with underlying business performance remaining robust. Our strong balance sheet provides us with flexibility, enabling organic growth as well as targeted M&A, along with the potential for further financial returns to shareholders with an increase to the interim dividend and an intention to launch an additional £25m share buyback in the second half. Whilst the geopolitical and macroeconomic volatility continues to create market uncertainty, the Group's improved operational capabilities, strong order book and healthy tendering pipeline give the Board confidence in meeting expectations for full year 2025, despite an anticipated increasing FX headwind in the second half.

Operating review

 

North America

 

	H1 2025	H1 2024	Constant currency
	£m	£m
Revenue	867.8	883.8	+0.8%
Underlying operating profit	82.1	105.8	-20.5%
Underlying operating margin	9.5%	12.0%	-250bps
Order book	1,026.3	1,131.0	-1.4%

 

In North America, revenue was slightly ahead of the prior year period at £867.8m on a constant currency basis, with higher revenues at Moretrench Industrial, RECON and the Foundations business, largely offset by a decline in revenue at Suncoast. Underlying operating profit decreased to £82.1m, down 20.5% on a constant currency basis, with the expected pricing environment normalising at Suncoast and the Foundations business in the US that had benefitted from the buoyant market in 2024. The Accident Frequency Rate, our key metric for measuring safety performance, improved to 0.03 with one lost time injury in the period (H1 2024: 0.06).

 

In Foundations, revenue increased slightly driven by higher levels of activity across the business. Underlying operating profit reduced as expected, largely driven by the normalising of the pricing environment in the US, and partially offset by a higher level of profitable projects in Canada versus the prior year period. On a normalised pricing basis, the underlying performance in Foundations has continued to be strong, evidencing the sustained improvement in underlying contract performance, improved project execution and focus on commercial discipline over the last 18 months.

 

At Suncoast, the Group's post-tension business, revenue and profitability declined as expected in the period, reflecting a decreased level of activity and strong pricing in the prior period. The residential market was impacted by the unfavourable interest rate environment, with a significant slowdown in housing starts and building permits. The commercial segment was challenged by both the interest rate environment and the introduction of tariffs impacting construction activity more widely.

 

Moretrench Industrial, which operates in the highly regulated environmental remediation market, continued to perform well, with growth in revenue and profit driven by strong demand. At RECON, our geoenvironmental and industrial services company, volumes increased while profit decreased due to a continued delay in the permitting of new LNG projects. In July 2025, RECON commenced work to prepare for a new LNG export facility in Louisiana.

 

US construction grew c.7% in 2024 and is expected to grow c.1% in 2025 (source: FMI). The slow-down is primarily driven by broad-based weakness in the residential sector; infrastructure spend remains relatively resilient. The Division's scale and market share in key geographies coupled with a reputation for strong project delivery has enabled the division to maintain a strong orderbook at £1,026.3m, similar to the prior year period, on an actual basis and in constant currency. The US Foundations business has done well in maintaining its work-in-hand levels versus the prior year period.

 

Europe and Middle East (EME)

 

	H1 2025	H1 2024	Constant currency
	£m	£m
Revenue	408.3	418.9	-0.8%
Underlying operating profit	14.6	3.0	440.7%
Underlying operating margin	3.6%	0.7%	+290bps
Order book	335.9	367.3	-6.9%

 

 

In EME, revenue was similar to the prior year period at £408.3m, a marginal decrease of 0.8% on a constant currency basis, driven by revenue growth in the Middle East and across much of Europe, notably South East Europe and the Baltic countries, against the comparator of several large infrastructure projects in Europe in the prior period. Underlying operating profit increased significantly to £14.6m on a constant currency basis, reflecting an overall improvement in project execution and operational performance across the division. Performance benefitted from the non-recurrence of losses incurred in the early stages of a challenging project in the Middle East and project challenges in the Nordics in the prior period, offset by the non-recurrence of a large successful infrastructure project in Central Europe. The Accident Frequency Rate reduced to 0.06, with four lost time injuries in the period (H1 2024: 0.11).

 

Across the European business units, a strong improvement in operational performance in the period saw an increase in underlying operating profitability (in constant currency) whilst revenues declined, with continued low levels of activity across a number of residential and commercial construction markets as well as the non-recurrence of several large infrastructure projects in Europe in the prior period (Central Europe and Nordics). Against this backdrop, performance benefitted from continued management focus on project execution. In the UK, despite comparable volumes versus the prior period, continuing challenging market conditions had a negative impact on margin.

 

In the Middle East, underlying operating profit increased significantly by £11.1m, on a constant currency basis, driven by the non-recurrence of losses incurred in the early stages of a challenging project in the region in the prior period. Discussions continue with the client to remedy the contractual position on the challenging project. The wider Middle East region performed well, in line with a strong prior year period, across a range of markets and projects.

 

The EME order book at the end of the period was £335.9m, down 6.9% on a constant currency basis. The order book is broadly spread across geographic markets and project size with overall growth across Europe offsetting the run-off of a major project in the Middle East. In Europe, projects tend to be weighted towards infrastructure, with residential and commercial sectors remaining subdued, whilst the Middle East shows a more even spread across sectors.

 

Asia-Pacific (APAC)

 

	H1 2025	H1 2024	Constant currency
	£m	£m
Revenue	181.6	187.1	+2.9%
Underlying operating profit	13.9	11.1	+36.3%
Underlying operating margin	7.7%	5.9%	+180bps
Order book	203.2	142.5	+55.6%

 

 

In APAC, revenues increased by 2.9% to £181.6m on a constant currency basis, largely driven by higher volumes at Austral and partially offset by lower volumes at Keller Australia and Keller Asia¹. Underlying operating profit increased to £13.9m, up 36.3%, driven by higher profitable growth at Keller Australia and Austral, including the benefit of several project closure settlements at Keller Australia. The division had no reported injuries in the period (Accident Frequency Rate H1 2024: 0.08; with three lost time injuries).

 

The Austral business continued to perform strongly, increasing revenue and profit, with management successful in driving growth in the business following its turnaround in the second half of 2023. Keller Australia achieved a solid performance. Volumes were down as expected after high levels of federal and state government spending on transport infrastructure in the prior year, though profits increased including the benefit from several successful project closure settlements. In Keller Asia, our India business continued to perform strongly in terms of both revenue and profit, whilst in ASEAN, the Singapore market had a relatively soft first half. The Singapore business is expected to grow in the second half following the award of several infrastructure projects.

 

The APAC order book at the end of the period was £203.2m, up 55.6% on a constant currency basis, largely driven by Austral in the mining and marine sectors in Australia. In Keller Australia, federal and state investment in transport infrastructure is slowing. Across Asia, India continues to work in the commercial sectors whilst transitioning into the growing renewable energy sector. In ASEAN, the Singaporean business has secured several urban infrastructure projects.

 

¹ As from 1 January 2025, Keller India and ASEAN combined to form Keller Asia.

 

 

Chief Financial Officer's review

 

This report comments on the key financial aspects of the Group's interim results for the half year period ended 30 June 2025.

 

		H1 2025		H1 2024
		£m		£m
Revenue		1,457.7		1,489.8
Underlying operating profit1		102.6		113.2
Underlying operating profit %1		7.0%		7.6%
Non-underlying items		(5.3)		(7.3)
Statutory operating profit		97.3		105.9

 

¹ Details of non-underlying items are set out in note 7 to the interim condensed consolidated financial statements. Reconciliations to statutory numbers are set out in note 4 to the interim condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

Geographic segmentation

 

		Revenue £m		Underlying operating profit2 £m			Underlying operating profit margin2 %
		H1 2025	H1 2024	H1 2025	H1 2024		H1 2025	H1 2024
Division
North America		867.8	883.8	82.1	105.8		9.5%	12.0%
Europe and Middle East		408.3	418.9	14.6	3.0		3.6%	0.7%
Asia-Pacific		181.6	189.2	13.9	11.1		7.7%	5.9%
Central		-	-	(8.0)	(6.7)		-	-
Group		1,457.7	1,489.8	102.6	113.2		7.0%	7.6%

 

² Details of non-underlying items are set out in note 7 to the interim condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

 

Revenue

Revenue of £1,457.7m (H1 2024: £1,489.8m) was 2.2% down on 2024. On a constant currency basis, revenue increased by 0.6%, reflecting volume growth in Moretrench, RECON and Foundations in North America and Austral in APAC, largely offset by lower revenues at Suncoast and Central Europe compared with the prior period.

 

North America reported a revenue increase of 0.8% (at constant currency), positively impacted by the higher activity at Moretrench, RECON and Foundations which was offset by a reduction in trading volume and price at Suncoast. In Europe and Middle East, revenue decreased by 0.8% (at constant currency), driven by lower volumes in Central Europe and the Nordics, against the comparative of several large infrastructure projects in the prior period. This was partly offset by higher volumes in the Middle East, notably South East Europe and the Baltic countries. Revenue in APAC increased by 2.9% on a constant currency basis, driven by Austral in Australia.

 

We have a diversified spread of revenues across geographies, product lines, market segments and end customers. Customers are generally market specific and the largest customer represented 4% (H1 2024: 4%) of the Group's revenue for the half year. The top 10 customers represent 17% of the Group's revenue for the half year (H1 2024: 20%).

 

Underlying operating profit

The underlying operating profit of £102.6m was 9.4% lower than the prior year (H1 2024: £113.2m) and on a constant currency basis was 6.3% down on prior year.

 

North America underlying constant currency operating profit decreased by 20.5%, largely driven by the expected price normalisation at Suncoast. Europe and Middle East constant currency underlying operating profit increased by £11.9m to £14.6m, reflecting an overall improvement in operational performance and project execution. APAC underlying operating profit grew by 36.3% on a constant currency basis, largely driven by the benefit of several successful project closure settlements at Keller Australia and higher profitable volume growth at Austral.

 

Share of post-tax results from joint ventures

The Group recognised an underlying post-tax loss of £0.1m in the period (H1 2024: £0.5m loss) from its share of the post-tax results from joint ventures.

 

Statutory operating profit

Statutory operating profit, comprising underlying operating profit of £102.6m (H1 2024: £113.2m) and non-underlying items comprising net costs of £5.3m (H1 2024: £7.3m), decreased by 8.1% to £97.3m (H1 2024: £105.9m).

 

Net finance costs

Net finance costs decreased by 7% to £9.9m (H1 2024: £10.6m), as a result of lower average net debt during the period. Average net borrowings, excluding IFRS 16 lease liabilities, decreased by 65% in the period from £112.4m during the half year to 30 June 2024 to £39.2m during the half year to 30 June 2025, driven by operating cash flow offset by the impact of the share buyback.

 

Taxation

The Group's underlying effective tax rate of 23% (H1 2024: 26%) is in line with the full-year rate for FY 2024 of 23%, reflecting the expected tax rate based on the forecasted full-year profit mix across the Group.

 

Cash tax paid in the period of £28.6m was a decrease of £5.8m over prior year (H1 2024: £34.4m). The reduction is driven by the absence of a second quarter prepayment in the US typically paid in June, in order to factor in anticipated legislative changes that were enacted in July. These changes are expected to significantly reduce the annual US federal cash tax liability for the rest of the year.

 

The UK government has enacted legislation introducing a global minimum tax of 15% in line with the OECD's Pillar Two rules, which has applied to Keller from 1 January 2024. The Group has performed an assessment for FY 2025, and no additional tax is expected for most jurisdictions in which we operate. Those where the effective rate is below 15% are not expected to give rise to a material additional tax charge.

 

Non-underlying items

Details of non-underlying items are included in note 7 to the interim condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

Non-underlying operating costs

Non-underlying operating costs were £4.7m (H1 2024: £6.6m).

 

The Group has continued to make progress with the strategic project to implement a new cloud-based computing enterprise resource planning (ERP) system across the Group. Due to the size, nature and incidence of these costs, they are presented as a non-underlying item, as they are not reflective of underlying performance of the Group. The cost recognised in the first half is £4.1m (H1 2024: £2.5m).

 

Exceptional restructuring costs of £0.6m (H1 2024: £3.3m) have been incurred for the finance transformation project. The non-underlying costs for the period include design costs; they do not include the running costs for the underlying finance activities.

 

In the prior period, the Group realised a £0.8m loss on the disposal of the South African business, which completed on 28 June 2024. There is an earnout arrangement on the sale, with contingent consideration received this half year, which has been recognised as other operating income, see note below.

 

Amortisation of acquired intangibles

The £0.8m (H1 2024: £1.5m) charge for amortisation of acquired intangible assets relates to the RECON acquisitions. The prior period charge also included amounts related to intangibles acquired with Moretrench and GKM Consultants.

 

 

 

Non-underlying other operating income

Non-underlying other operating income of £0.2m arises from the first year earn out contingent consideration receipt received for the South Africa disposal. The £0.8m income in the prior period arises from a change in fair value of the contingent consideration for the GKM Consultants acquisition.

 

Non-underlying taxation

A non-underlying tax credit of £0.8m (H1 2024: £1.0m) relates to the tax benefit on non-underlying charges which are expected to be deductible.

 

Earnings per share

Underlying diluted earnings per share decreased by 5% to 98.1p (H1 2024: 103.3p) due to the reduced operating profit and lower net finance costs. Statutory diluted earnings per share was 91.8p (H1 2024: 94.7p).

 

Dividend

The Group's dividend policy is to increase the dividend sustainably whilst allowing the Group to be able to grow or, as a minimum, maintain the level of dividend through market cycles. The dividend policy is therefore impacted by the performance of the Group, which is subject to the Group's principal risks and uncertainties as well as the level of headroom on the Group's borrowing facilities, future cash commitments and investment plans.

 

The interim dividend has been rebased to 18.3p (H1 2024: 16.6p) commensurate with an anticipated full-year dividend increase of 5%, following the 10% increase in 2024.

Net debt flow

The Group's free cash inflow of £14.3m (H1 2024: £88.6m) is down on the prior period, which benefitted from some larger customer advances. Free cash flow has been impacted by increased working capital in Europe and Middle East, partially offset by lower interest and tax payments than the prior year. The basis of deriving free cash flow is set out below:

 

		H1 2025	H1 2024
		£m	£m
Underlying operating profit		102.6	113.2
Depreciation and amortisation		52.6	54.0
Underlying EBITDA		155.2	167.2
Non-cash items		(1.6)	(3.3)
Increase in working capital		(78.2)	(2.5)
Increase in provisions, retirement benefit liabilities and other non-current liabilities		10.2	10.0
Net capital expenditure		(27.3)	(23.1)
Additions to right-of-use assets		(9.4)	(14.2)
Sale of non-current assets		2.7	-
Free cash flow before interest and tax		51.6	134.1
Free cash flow before interest and tax to underlying operating profit		50%	118%
Net interest paid		(8.7)	(11.1)
Cash tax paid		(28.6)	(34.4)
Free cash flow		14.3	88.6
Dividends paid to shareholders		(23.3)	(22.6)
Purchase of own shares		(28.8)	(6.5)
Acquisitions		(0.5)	(0.7)
Business disposals		0.2	(4.9)
Non-underlying items		(4.0)	(5.0)
Right-of-use assets/lease liability modifications		(6.3)	(7.4)
Foreign exchange movements		21.8	(3.2)
Movement in net debt		(26.6)	38.3
Opening net debt		(126.9)	(237.3)
Closing net debt		(153.5)	(199.0)

 

Working capital

Net working capital increased by £78.2m (H1 2024: £2.5m), reflecting a £27.7m increase (H1 2024: £1.0m decrease) in inventory levels and a £73.1m increase (H1 2024: £75.9m increase) in trade and other receivables. Trade and other payables, which includes deferred revenue, increased by £22.6m (H1 2024: £72.4m increase).  The movement in the period is lower than the prior period, due to two significant customer advance payments received in the prior period, which have now been utilised.

 

An increase in provisions and retirement benefit liabilities improved the working capital by £10.2m (H1 2024: £10.0m). This reflects an increase in provisions, as the amounts provided for contract and legal disputes exceeded the amounts settled.

 

Capital expenditure

The Group manages capital expenditure tightly whilst investing in the upgrade and replacement of equipment where appropriate. Net capital expenditure of £27.3m (H1 2024: £23.1m) included proceeds from the sale of equipment of £9.2m (H1 2024: £14.5m). The asset replacement ratio, which is calculated by dividing gross capital expenditure, excluding sales proceeds on disposal of items of property, plant and equipment and those assets capitalised under IFRS 16, by the depreciation charge on owned property, plant and equipment, was 98% (H1 2024: 96%).

 

Purchase of own shares

The Group launched an initial £25m tranche of a multi-year share buyback programme in the period and completed the process on 29 May 2025. The cash outflow for the share buyback in the period was £25.2m. Purchase of own shares also includes the acquisition of shares by the Employee Benefit Trust (EBT) of £3.6m (H1 2024: £6.5m).

 

Acquisitions and disposals

Acquisition cash flow of £0.5m in the period relates to an earn-out payment related to the acquisition of the 35% of our Saudi Arabia subsidiary completed in 2023.

 

The business disposal cash inflow of £0.2m is the first year earn-out receipt from the disposal of the South African subsidiary last year.

 

Non-underlying cash flows

Non-underlying cash outflow of £4.0m (H1 2024: £5.0m) includes the cash impact of non-underlying items reflected in the income statement in the current and prior periods. The outflow in the period includes £3.4m cash outflow (H1 2024: £2.4m) for ERP costs and £0.6m outflow (H1 2024: £2.6m) for the finance transformation project.

 

Financing facilities and net debt

The Group's total net debt of £153.5m (H1 2024: £199.0m) comprises loans and borrowings of £217.0m (H1 2024: £296.8m), lease liabilities of £93.1m (H1 2024: £98.7m) net of cash and cash equivalents of £156.6m (H1 2024: £196.5m).

 

The Group's term debt and committed facilities principally comprise US private placement notes repayable in August 2030 ($120m) and in August 2033 ($180m). In addition, the Group has a £400m committed multi-currency syndicated revolving credit facility, originally a five-year facility with the option to extend for a further two years. The first extension option was approved in the period, extending the term to June 2030. The revolving credit facility was undrawn at the period end.

 

At 30 June 2025, the Group had undrawn committed and uncommitted borrowing facilities totalling £445.5m, comprising £400m of the unutilised revolving credit facility and undrawn uncommitted borrowing facilities of £45.5m, as well as cash and cash equivalents of £156.6m.

 

The most significant covenants in respect of the main borrowing facilities relate to the ratio of net debt to underlying EBITDA, underlying EBITDA interest cover and the Group's net worth. The covenants are required to be tested at the half year and the year end. The Group operates comfortably within all of its covenant limits. Net debt to underlying EBITDA leverage, calculated excluding the impact of IFRS 16, was 0.2x (H1 2024: 0.3x), well within the limit of 3.0x and below the leverage target range of between 0.5x-1.5x. Calculated on a statutory basis, including the impact of IFRS 16, net debt to EBITDA leverage was 0.5x at 30 June 2025 (H1 2024: 0.6x). Underlying EBITDA, excluding the impact of IFRS 16, to net finance charges for the period to 30 June 2025 was 20.9x (H1 2024: 17.0x).

 

On an IFRS 16 basis, gearing at 30 June 2025 was 27% (H1 2024: 36%).

 

The average month-end net debt during the period ended 30 June 2025, excluding IFRS 16 lease liabilities, was £39.2m (H1 2024: £112.4m) and the Group's revolving credit facility has been undrawn during the period. The Group had no material discounting or factoring in place during the period. Given the relatively low value and short-term nature of the majority of the Group's projects, the level of advance payments is typically not significant.

 

At 30 June 2025, the Group had drawn upon uncommitted overdraft facilities of £1.7m (H1 2024: £2.3m) and had drawn £225.3m of bank guarantee facilities (H1 2024: £203.0m).

 

Retirement benefit liabilities

The Group has defined benefit retirement obligations in Germany and Austria and a number of end of service schemes in the Middle East that follow the same principles as a defined benefit scheme. There is also a defined benefit scheme in the UK, which is fully funded on an IAS 19 accounting basis. The Group's net defined benefit liabilities as at 30 June 2025 were £15.3m (H1 2024: £16.0m). The net defined liability for the Keller Group Pension Scheme in the UK as at 30 June 2025 is £nil (H1 2024: £0.2m), as there are no further contribution requirements to the scheme.

 

Currencies

The Group is exposed to both translational and, to a lesser extent, transactional foreign currency gains and losses through movements in foreign exchange rates as a result of its global operations. The Group's primary currency exposures are US dollar, Canadian dollar, euro and Australian dollar.

 

As the Group reports in sterling and conducts the majority of its business in other currencies, movements in exchange rates can result in significant currency translation gains or losses. This has an effect on the primary statements and associated balance sheet metrics, such as net debt and working capital.

 

A large proportion of the Group's revenues are matched with corresponding operating costs in the same currency. The impacts of transactional foreign exchange gains or losses are consequently mitigated and are recognised in the period in which they arise.

 

The following exchange rates applied during the current and prior half year period:

 

	H1 2025			H1 2024
	Closing	Average		Closing	Average
USD	1.37	1.30		1.26	1.27
CAD	1.87	1.83		1.73	1.72
EUR	1.17	1.19		1.18	1.17
AUD	2.09	2.05		1.90	1.92

 

Principal risks

The Group operates globally across many geotechnical market sectors and in varied geographic markets. The Group's performance and prospects may be affected by risks and uncertainties in relation to the industry and the environments in which it undertakes its operations around the world. The Group is alert to the challenges of managing risk and has systems and procedures in place across the Group to identify, assess and mitigate major business risks.

 

The principal risks and uncertainties are as follows:

·      Financial risks

o  Inability to finance our business

·      Market risk

o  A rapid downturn in our markets

·      Strategic risk

o  Losing our market share

o  Ethical misconduct and non-compliance with regulations

o  Inability to maintain our technological product advantage

o  Climate change

·      Operational risk

o  Ineffective management of our projects

o  Causing a serious injury or fatality to an employee or member of the public

o  Not having the right skills to deliver

o  Information Technology, cyber security and assurance

 

For a more detailed description of these risks, uncertainties and other factors, please see the Principal risks and uncertainties section of the Strategic report in the 2024 Annual Report and Accounts.

 

Overall, our risk environment has remained stable during the first half of 2025, and we have only seen some minor changes to the previously disclosed principal risks and mitigations. Key points to note are:

·      Seven-year £400m RCF secured (initial five years with two one-year extensions). The first RCF one year extension request was submitted to the RCF agent. Acceptance of the extension has been given extending the RCF maturity to June 2030. This along with continued strong operational performance in H1 2025, demonstrates a clear ability to manage both existing and future financial risks.

·      Supply chains have in the whole returned to normal, including both scarcity of certain materials (steel, cement and energy) and the pricing impact. The one exception to this has been Suncoast, where the wider impact of the conflict in Gaza has been putting some pressure on shipping rates for steel. They are also being negatively impacted by the steels tariffs that have been imposed by the US government.

·      Political instability in key areas where Keller operates remains under constant review and will do so until we see a significant de-escalation in those areas. Inflation has fallen back to just above central bank targets and interest rates have seen consecutive cuts in the US, Europe and the UK. Current projections are for inflation to increase again through the rest of 2025 due to tariff uncertainty, before falling back again in 2026. Interest rates are expected to continue to fall in 2025. This potentially creates uncertainty for our customers and close attention will be paid to order intake. We will maintain a very close watch on both inflation and interest rates, especially in the US as the impact of the tariff policy becomes clearer over H2 2025. Should these changes impact the current trajectory of inflation and interest rates, we will take appropriate mitigating actions.

 

The important developments in managing our principal risks during 2025 are as follows:

·      Continued focus on managing a robust risk management process across all parts of the organisation to enable better and more responsive decision making, supported by our Governance, Risk Management and Compliance (GRC) tool.

·      Regularly reviewing our principal risks and the mitigating actions we are taking to ensure they accurately reflect the risks we are facing and how we are responding to those risks.

·      Continuing to review risk trends, including the consideration of risks across the medium and long term via horizon scanning and reviewing emerging legislation to ascertain how they may impact Keller.

 

The key areas of focus for the remainder of 2025 are as follows:

·      Continued tailored business unit training on the GRC tool.

·      We will continue to monitor the following items through the regular review of risks across the business and any impact they may have on our principal risks for 2025 year-end reporting:

o  Supply chain issues, specifically transportation, where the impacts of the conflict in Gaza continue to put some pressure on shipping rates.

o  Recruitment and retention issues have eased slightly, but focus will remain where hotspots exist around specific roles. Increased focus on retaining and training staff will remain a priority.

o  Inflation rates have started to creep up with uncertainty around the impact of tariffs coming out of the US. Interest rates are still falling, if a little slower than anticipated and will be closely tracked in the markets in which we operate. We will also monitor whether this leads to customers beginning to restart projects that were put on hold.

 

 

Statement of Directors' responsibilities

 

The interim financial report is the responsibility of, and has been approved by, the Directors. The Directors are responsible for preparing the interim financial report in accordance with the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules (DTR) of the United Kingdom's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

 

The DTR require that the accounting policies and presentation applied to the half yearly figures must be consistent with those applied in the latest published annual accounts, except where the accounting policies and presentation are to be changed in the subsequent annual accounts, in which case the new accounting policies and presentation should be followed, and the changes and the reasons for the changes should be disclosed in the interim report, unless the FCA agrees otherwise.

 

The Directors confirm that to the best of their knowledge the condensed set of financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with UK adopted International Accounting Standard 34, 'Interim Financial Reporting', give a true and fair view of the assets, liabilities, financial position and profit and loss of the Group, as required by DTR 4.2 and in particular include a fair review of:

·      the important events that have occurred during the first half of the financial year and their impact on the interim condensed consolidated set of financial statements as required by DTR 4.2.7R;

·      the principal risks and uncertainties for the remaining half of the year as required by DTR 4.2.7R; and

·      related party transactions that have taken place in the first half of the current financial year and changes in the related party transactions described in the previous annual report that have materially affected the financial position or performance of the Group during the first half of the current financial year as required by DTR 4.2.8R.

 

The Directors of Keller Group plc are listed in the 2024 Annual Report and Accounts.

 

Approved by the Board of Keller Group plc and signed on its behalf by:

 

David Burke

Chief Financial Officer

 

4 August 2025

 

 

 

INDEPENDENT REVIEW REPORT TO KELLER GROUP PLC

 

Conclusion

 

We have been engaged by the Company to review the condensed set of financial statements in the half-yearly financial report for the six months ended 30 June 2025 which comprises the condensed consolidated income statement, condensed consolidated statement of comprehensive income, condensed consolidated balance sheet, condensed consolidated statements of changes in equity, condensed consolidated cash flow statement and the related explanatory notes. We have read the other information contained in the half yearly financial report and considered whether it contains any apparent misstatements or material inconsistencies with the information in the condensed set of financial statements.

 

Based on our review, nothing has come to our attention that causes us to believe that the condensed set of financial statements in the half-yearly financial report for the six months ended 30 June 2025 is not prepared, in all material respects, in accordance with UK adopted International Accounting Standard 34 and the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules of the United Kingdom's Financial Conduct Authority.

 

Basis for Conclusion

 

We conducted our review in accordance with International Standard on Review Engagements 2410 (UK) "Review of Interim Financial Information Performed by the Independent Auditor of the Entity" (ISRE) issued by the Financial Reporting Council. A review of interim financial information consists of making enquiries, primarily of persons responsible for financial and accounting matters, and applying analytical and other review procedures. A review is substantially less in scope than an audit conducted in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) and consequently does not enable us to obtain assurance that we would become aware of all significant matters that might be identified in an audit. Accordingly, we do not express an audit opinion.

 

As disclosed in note 2, the annual financial statements of the group are prepared in accordance with UK adopted international accounting standards. The condensed set of financial statements included in this half-yearly financial report has been prepared in accordance with UK adopted International Accounting Standard 34, "Interim Financial Reporting".

 

 

Conclusions Relating to Going Concern

 

Based on our review procedures, which are less extensive than those performed in an audit as described in the Basis for Conclusion section of this report, nothing has come to our attention to suggest that management have inappropriately adopted the going concern basis of accounting or that management have identified material uncertainties relating to going concern that are not appropriately disclosed.

 

This conclusion is based on the review procedures performed in accordance with this ISRE, however future events or conditions may cause the entity to cease to continue as a going concern.

 

 

Responsibilities of the directors

 

The directors are responsible for preparing the half-yearly financial report in accordance with the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules of the United Kingdom's Financial Conduct Authority.

 

In preparing the half-yearly financial report, the directors are responsible for assessing the company's ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the directors either intend to liquidate the company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.

 

 

Auditor's Responsibilities for the review of the financial information

In reviewing the half-yearly report, we are responsible for expressing to the Company a conclusion on the condensed set of financial statements in the half-yearly financial report. Our conclusion, including our Conclusions Relating to Going Concern, are based on procedures that are less extensive than audit procedures, as described in the Basis for Conclusion paragraph of this report.

 

 

Use of our report

 

This report is made solely to the company in accordance with guidance contained in International Standard on Review Engagements 2410 (UK) "Review of Interim Financial Information Performed by the Independent Auditor of the Entity" issued by the Financial Reporting Council. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the company, for our work, for this report, or for the conclusions we have formed.

 

 

 

Ernst & Young LLP

London

4^th August 2025