Construction company Ballast Nedam booked operating profit of € 17m in 2009, down from €42m the previous year, as the effect of the recession continued to bite.

Turnover was down marginally at €1.4bn, while net profit reached €6m, compared with €24m in 2008.
The company said it expects a lower operating result for 2010 of between €10m and €15m on lower turnover. ‘The market prospects for the next few years will be marked by numerous uncertainties,’ the company said in a statement.