Ramboll achieves record results and strong order book
Date: 08/03/2018The Ramboll Group continues its positive course in 2017. Once again the engineering, design and consultancy company reports the best operating profit in company history and an improved EBITA margin. With a solid order book across all markets, Ramboll is well positioned for future growth.
The Ramboll Group delivered yet again a strong performance in 2017. Operating profit before goodwill amortisation (EBITA) increased by 2.8% to DKK 618.9 million – the highest in the company’s history – and EBITA margin improved to 5.8%. Organic growth was 2.8%. At year-end, Ramboll’s strong order book amounts to DKK 5.6 billion compared to DKK 4.8 billion at the end of 2016.
“I am pleased to report another successful year for Ramboll,” says Group CEO Jens-Peter Saul. “All business units have delivered a profit and we have seen improved operational performance in most of our markets. We achieved particularly good results in the US and in the Nordics, where Finland and Sweden delivered all-time high results. Our Middle East and Asia business unit has achieved a successful turnaround and is now moving to become as profitable as the rest of the Group. Our Energy business unit delivered according to plan, but it is not as strong a result as we have seen in previous years. Our Oil & Gas business has realised a good result in a still difficult market. The measures we took following the oil and gas market plunge in 2015-2016 have had a positive effect, so that our Oil & Gas business unit is now again one of the most profitable in Ramboll. In light of the good results for 2017 and a 17% increase in orders since last year, I expect stronger organic growth in 2018,” Jens-Peter Saul says.
Accelerating innovation
Ramboll’s strong performance allows the company to place focus on growth and invest in innovation and digitalisation which are top priorities in the Group’s 2020 strategy Winning Together.
”We want to be at the front end of digital development and create value for our clients through forward leaning innovation,” says Jens-Peter Saul. “Our ambition is to embed innovation and digitalisation deeply in daily operations by transforming both the way we work and what we offer to our clients. We are ramping up initiatives to accelerate innovation and we have welcomed a new Chief Innovation Officer in the Group Executive Board to lead the transformation.”
Spearhead engines for growth
To drive growth and strengthen specialisation, a number of global Spearhead services have been defined and developed. Covering internationally deployable services such as High-Rise Buildings, Major Crossings and Smart Mobility, the Spearhead services will target specific client and market segments and help Ramboll offer high-end solutions internationally and within markets where the company already has a strong presence.
“The Spearhead services are established to strengthen Ramboll’s specialisation in certain areas while keeping our broad multidisciplinary competence base and holistic offering. They are a growth engine for the future, and I am pleased to see that they are already taking off strongly,” says Jens-Peter Saul.
The Spearhead services are part of a new operating model and matrix organisation implemented to boost profitable growth and increase collaboration globally. “We win when we work together across geographies and market areas,” says Jens-Peter Saul. “By breaking down silos, our new matrix organisation aims to drive profitable growth by leveraging the full strengths and synergies across our portfolio.”