Pre-tax profits at building group McInerney rose by 35% to £15m last year as turnover grew from £86.3m in 1999 to £137.3m, with the group saying that all its divisions performed strongly.
Earnings per share were up from 27.81p to 36.48p. An interim dividend of 2.76p is to be paid in lieu of a final dividend.
The group's Irish housebuilding division was again the major contributor to profits, completing 652 units, compared with 600 in 1999. The division also had 3,294 planning permissions at year-end, compared with 1,970 a year earlier.
The company said there had also been good demand in the first quarter, though more of its house completions would be achieved in the second half this year. It said demographics and continuing economic growth would benefit its housebuilding division.
McInerney said its commercial arm Hillview Securities generated solid returns due to strong demand for light industrial units. It said its Four Seasons Country Club in Marbella also performed well, with strong rental demand.
The group's Bolton-based UK developer William Hargreaves made a 'modest profit' in its first full year under McInerney's control. The company's shares closed up two cents in Dublin to 2.42 euros.
