Implenia considers itself well positioned

The first half of 2017 was quite challenging for Implenia: special costs in Switzerland, amortization in the wake of the Bilfinger Hochbau acquisitions, and problems in Norway depressed earnings. However, given the strong performance in the second half of the year, Switzerland's largest construction group reported a good overall earnings performance for the 2017 financial year. All segments contributed to the operating profit, especially the project development business and the buildings and infrastructure business units, the company says. In the reporting period, Implena generated consolidated sales of CHF 3,859 million, compared with CHF 3,267 million in the previous year - an increase of 18.1 percent. Although profit of around CHF 39 million was 37.8 percent lower than in the previous year, the Group achieved a new record at EBITDA level: it increased by 4.6 percent to CHF 173.8 million in the reporting period (2016: 166.2 million). The bottom line for the 2017 financial year was a net profit (excl. PPA) of CHF 65.4 million (2016: 72.7 million) despite one-off adjustments.

The Board of Directors will propose to the Annual General Meeting of Implenia Ltd. on 27 March 2018 that a dividend of CHF 2.00 per share be distributed, unchanged from the previous year. Implenia's management is optimistic about the future course of business: "The Group's order books are full and of good quality, the markets are healthy and the company is well positioned; the foundations have been laid for good growth abroad." The company is therefore convinced that it will succeed in cracking the old target of an EBIT of CHF 140 million in the current 2018 financial year.