Ballast Nedam Trading Update for the First Quarter of 2014

NIEUWEGEIN, April 25, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --

Not for release, publication or distribution, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States, Australia, Canada, Japan, or any other jurisdiction in which such release, publication or distribution would be unlawful. 

• Markets still challenging 
  
• Order book of € 1 395 million 

The markets continued to be challenging in the first quarter, despite the first signs of a recovery on the horizon. Competition was accordingly still fierce, and there was no improvement in prices.

Ballast Nedam's revenue was lower than for the first quarter of 2013, in particular because of the scaling down of the regional Infrastructure operations. The results achieved in the first quarter were slightly better than those of last year in particular in the specialized and supply companies. The substantial restructuring of several specialized companies that was embarked upon in 2013 is starting to work through tentatively into the figures. The absence of freezing conditions in the winter also contributed favourably. The ongoing talks with the client regarding the contract variations for the large A15 Maasvlakte- Vaanplein project have not yet led to an agreement, as a result of which the risk profile has increased.

The financing position including the non-recourse loans declined in the first quarter by € 90 million to a debt of € 173 million. The net cash component was € 45 million. The normal pattern is for a larger capital requirement to arise in mid year than at year-end.

The order book contracted in the first quarter to € 1 395 million. At year-end 2013 this was € 1 460 million. This contraction was attributable mainly to Infrastructure, because of progress on the major projects with no major projects being acquired. Having renovated The Grand and the l'Europe in past years, Ballast Nedam was awarded the rebuilding of Hotel Krasnapolsky on Amsterdam's Dam Square in the first quarter. The new building of the Thialf stadium in Heerenveen was finally awarded, with a total contract value of over 38 million euros. This project has not yet been entered into the order book.

This year will see the implementation of the strategic, operational and financial measures that have been announced. In this connection, Omnia Plaatvloer in Coevorden will be closed. The production of the Coevorden-based wide panel flooring manufacturer will cease in mid June. The disposals of Feniks and Beheersmaatschappij Bontrup are ongoing. The changes in Building & Development are on schedule, and the employees have been duly informed. In addition the bank refinancing was completed in the first quarter and the financial position is to be strengthened with a rights issue of € 30 million with the support of all 5%-plus shareholders. Our aim is to complete this process in the third quarter. 2014 will be a transitional year for the company.

Ballast Nedam engages in integrated projects in The Netherlands in four areas of work: housing, mobility, energy and nature. Within this area we focus on the niche markets: industrial construction, offshore wind turbines, secondary raw materials and alternative fuels. In a number of areas of expertise, we also operate internationally. The Ballast Nedam share is included in the Amsterdam Small Cap Index (AScX) of NYSE Euronext.

Ballast Nedam's approach is based on life cycle thinking and acting: we develop, construct, manage and recycle. We are involved in long-term management, maintenance and operation of projects and organize financial feasibility. Our supply and specialized companies deliver competitive edge through innovation, cost leadership and purchasing strength. Ballast Nedam's range of services is shifting towards modular products and specific product-market combinations with greater added value.

Ballast Nedam creates enduring quality combined with lower life cycle costs for its customers and society. http://www.ballast-nedam.com

This document is or information purposes only and does not constitute , and should not be construed as, an offer to sell, or the solicitation of an offer to acquire or subscribe for, securities of Ballast Nedam N.V. (the "Company") in the United States, Australia, Canada, Japan, their territories and possessions, or any other jurisdiction in which such offer or sale of securities would be unlawful prior to registration, exemption from registration or qualification under the securities laws of such jurisdiction.

The securities of the Company have not been and will not be registered under the US Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") and will not be registered with any authority competent with respect to securities in any state or other jurisdiction of the United States. Accordingly, the securities of the Company may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration under the Securities Act. No public offering of the securities of the Company is being made in the United States.

No communication or information relating to any offer or sale of securities of the Company may be disseminated to the public in jurisdictions, other than The Netherlands, where prior registration or approval is required for that purpose. No action has been taken that would permit an offer of securities of the Company in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required, other than in The Netherlands.

The Company has not authorised any offer to the public of securities in any Member State of the European Economic Area (other than the Netherlands). With respect to any Member State of the European Economic Area (other than the Netherlands), and which has implemented the Prospectus Directive (each a "Relevant Member State"), no action has been undertaken or will be undertaken to make an offer to the public of securities requiring publication of a prospectus in any Relevant Member State. As a result, the securities may only be offered in Relevant Member States (i) to any legal entity which is a qualified investor as defined in the Prospectus Directive; or (ii) in any other circumstances falling within Article 3(2) of the Prospectus Directive. For the purpose of this paragraph, the expression "offer of securities to the public" means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and the securities to be offered so as to enable the investor to decide to exercise, purchase or subscribe for the securities, as the same may be varied in that Member State by any measure implementing the Prospectus Directive in that Member State and the expression "Prospectus Directive" means Directive 2003/71/EC (and amendments thereto, including Directive 2010/73/EU, to the extent implemented in the Relevant Member State), and includes any relevant implementing measure in the Relevant Member State.

The release, publication or distribution of these materials in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law and therefore persons in such jurisdictions into which they are released, published or distributed, should inform themselves about, and observe, such restrictions.

These materials do not constitute a prospectus within the meaning of the Dutch Financial Markets Supervision Act (Wet op het financieel toezicht) and do not constitute an offer to acquire securities. Any offer to acquire securities pursuant to the proposed offering will be made, and any investor should make his investment, solely on the basis of information that will be contained in the prospectus to be made generally available in the Netherlands in connection with such offering. When made generally available, copies of the prospectus may be obtained at no cost from the Company or through the website of NYSE Euronext Amsterdam, the Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets and/or the website of the Company.