Selling the Ayr Central Shopping Centre for £33.8m wiped out the contractor’s debts

Yorkshire-based general contractor Henry Boot said it returned to profit in the financial year ending 31 December 2010. Pre-tax profits were £18.9m, compared with a loss of £11.9m in 2009. It also reported an increase in turnover, which was up 13%, to £131.9m in 2010, from £116.5m in 2009.

Post the financial year end, Henry Boot sold the Ayr Central Shopping Centre to raise a total of £33.8m. This wiped out its debts, which at the end of December were £11.4m. The firm is now on a much stronger financial footing and will resume its investments in land and property development.

Commenting on the results, John Reis, Henry Boot chairman, said: “I am pleased to report a significantly improved set of results for the year ending 31 December 2010.”

Topics