Forth Ports sees first-half 'well ahead'

LONDON (ShareCast) - Port operator and property group Forth Ports (LSE: FPT.L - news) expects results for the first half ended 30 June to be well ahead of the first half of last year.

"As in prior years, the second half of the year should see an improvement in the financial performance over the first half and we expect a strong trading performance for the full year," the group said.

The trading performance in the ports division should show strong growth in the first half of 2008 over the equivalent period in 2007. The outlook for the second half of 2008 in ports is, as in prior years, for an improved performance relative to the first half.

In a separate statement, Scottish and Southern Energy and Forth Ports announced that they have entered into a strategic venture to develop renewable energy projects around Forth Ports sites in Scotland and England.

To be called Forth Energy, the new venture will invest in the generation, distribution and supply of renewable energy for export to the electricity network for commercial sale and for consumption at Forth Ports sites.

The groups said possible projects with a total installed capacity in excess of 150MW have been identified.

Source: http://uk.biz.yahoo.com/080630/214/i2koa.html