Opus annual profit slips on rising tax, interest costs; trims dividend as debt mounts

Opus annual profit slips on rising tax, interest costs; trims dividend as debt mounts
By Paul McBeth Feb. 10 (BusinessDesk) - Opus International Consultants, the engineering firm with one of four mandates to lead design the Christchurch rebuild, reported a 2.6 percent decline in annual profit as it dealt with rising interest costs and a bigger tax bill, and trimmed its dividend payment while taking on more debt in the year. Net profit fell to $22.8 million, or 15 cents per share, in the 12 months ended Dec. 31, from $23.4 million, or 16 cents, a year earlier, the Wellington-based company said in a statement. Opus’s interest...