LONDON (ShareCast) - (Sharecast News) - Energy supplier SSE reported a fall in adjusted operating profit after taking a £115m hit from the coronavirus pandemic, but also maintained its interim dividend payout.
The company on Wednesday said adjusted operating profit fell 15% £418.3m. The dividend was held at 24.4p a share and SSE said it planned to recommend an annual payout of 80p a share plus RPI inflation.

Reported pre-tax profit for the six months to September 30 rose to £829.5m, up from £128.9m year-on-year.

Looking forward, the company said it expected to report adjusted earnings per share of 75p - 85p including gains on disposal of stakes in Seagreen and Dogger Bank offshore wind farms and forecast a full year impact from the pandemic towards the middle of the £150m -£250m range set out in June.

"Challenges lie ahead - not least in navigating another wave of the pandemic, the potential operational impact of the weather in the second half and the lingering uncertainties around Brexit," said chief executive Richard Gillingwater.

"But these are far outweighed by the wealth of significant opportunities we have to create value in the transition to net zero emissions."

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