Alstom posts increased sales and earnings

French group's first-half performance boosted by contracts in the US and Dubai

French engineering group Alstom has reported an increase in sales and adjusted earnings for the six months ended 30 September.

Alstom said sales had risen 8% to €3.6 billion in the first half of the year, while its adjusted earnings before interest and tax rose 20% to €200 million.

The group said €6.2 billion of orders were booked in the first half of the fiscal year 2016/17, compared to €3.9 billion registered in the same period last year.

Henri Poupart-Lafarge, Alstom’s chairman and chief executive, said: “The commercial performance was very dynamic including the booking of two contracts for a new generation of high-speed train in the US and the extension of the Dubai metro system.”

He added: “These results demonstrate the success of Alstom’s strategy and allow us to confirm the 2020 objectives.”

Alstom said it invested €62 million in research and development in the six-month period. Main programmes included the renewal of mainline and urban train ranges, signalling, and predictive maintenance.

The company also invested €43 million in capital expenditures to strengthen its global footprint in the emerging markets while modernising its existing facilities.