Keller Group plc (LSE: KLR) is a geotechnical engineering company. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index. The company is the world's largest geotechnical specialist contractor.[4]
Formerly | Chidworth Limited (1989–1990)[1] |
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Company type | Public limited company |
Industry | Ground engineering |
Founded | 1860 |
Headquarters | London, England |
Key people | |
Revenue | £2,966.0 million (2023)[2] |
£180.9 million (2023)[2] | |
£89.8 million (2023)[2] | |
Number of employees | 10,000 (2024)[3] |
Subsidiaries |
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Website | keller |
The company was established in the 1950s as the ground engineering division of GKN plc.[5] In 1960, it expanded into a stand-alone piling and ground improvement company and, in 1975, it acquired the German company Johann Keller and took on that name.[5] In 1984 Keller bought Hayward Baker Inc., a US ground engineering business.[6] In 1990 it was the subject of a management buy-out from GKN plc supported by Candover[6] and it was first listed on the London Stock Exchange in May 1994.[7] In 2006, Keller Group acquired Anderson Drilling, the creaters and owners of the Big Stan drilling rig.[8] In 2007, the company sold its social housing division for nominal consideration;[9] also in 2007 the company acquired HJ Foundation for £24.5 million.[10]
In January 2023, Keller published a profit warning after a "deliberate and sophisticated financial reporting fraud" at Austral Construction.[11][12][13] The estimated impact was £6m related to the first half of 2022, and £8m to £10m relating to prior years. Two directors were dismissed as investigations continued,[14][15] and the company's shares fell 10%.[16] The fraud was described by The Times as "apparently sophisticated".[17] Keller's pre-tax profit for 2022 fell by 17% as a result; it made £56m profit across the year, from a turnover of £2.9bn.[18]
Keller operates under three divisions and is supported by its group head office:
The company has been involved in laying foundations for complex projects including High Speed 2 in the UK[22] and the Spirit Tower in Australia.[23]