This after the AltX-listed company beat the R1-billion revenue mark, forecasting that it this figure could even exceed R1,3-billion this financial year.

"The best years are still to come," Krone said in an interview.

He added that 2010 was, in his opinion, "just a number on the calendar", and that the construction boom would continue well beyond that.

ACQUISITIONS

Esor, which offers geotechnical and civil engineering services, was on the acquisition trail again, and has "approached a couple of people", Krone stated.

The last buy that it made was Franki, which occurred towards the end of 2006.

"We are going to be acquisitive this year," he said, but drew attention to the fact that Esor would not buy companies just for the sake of buying, but would look to add value for its shareholders.

SLOWDOWN POSITIVE

In a presentation to its results for the year ended February, Esor said that it believed that a "period of consolidation" might follow last years' boom.

Asked what this meant, Krone said that there could be a slight down-turn in mostly the commercial construction sector, and that this might not be such a bad thing.

"Last year, the whole construction industry was stretched to the limit," he stated. "I don't think that's a good idea."

In fact, he said that a slight down turn could help Esor's bottom line, and help South African companies protect their share of the local market from overseas competitors eager to get in on the action.

""With such a good boom, people have been eyeing what is our turf, and we'd like to keep it our turf," he said.

With slightly lower volumes, the firm would be better able to handle its work load, he said.

MARGINS RAINED ON

Krone noted that the group's operating margin in South Africa at 13,5% was not quite where it wanted it, but that he expected some improvement this year.

The main contributor to the lower margins was high rainfall in Gauteng during the year, which had caused delays, he said.

Krone said that the group might be able to achieve margins of from 15% to 16% for the current financial year, but that this depended on conditions.

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