Southern Cross Electrical Engineering (ASX:SXE) said it is raising its profitability outlook for fiscal 2026 after securing more than AU$150 million of new work awards, according to a Monday filing with the Australian bourse.
The awards include one for its Heyday subsidiary for initial electrical and communications works on the first stage of Nextdc's (ASX:NXT) S4 Data Centre at Horsley Park, New South Wales, as well as one for its Trivantage Manufacturing unit to supply low voltage switchroom skids for a facility in Western Sydney.
Lastly, the company's SCEE Electrical subsidiary secured a master construction agreement for electrical, instrumentation and controls works from Rio Tinto (ASX:RIO).
Southern Cross now expects underlying fiscal 2026 earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) of at least AU$75 million, up from previous guidance of at least AU$72 million.
The company also issued fiscal 2027 EBITDA guidance of at least AU$100 million, representing a 33% increase on the outlook for the current fiscal year.
Additionally, Southern Cross is launching a AU$150 million fully underwritten institutional placement at an indicative range of AU$3.85 to AU$4 per share, as well as a AU$15 million non-underwritten share purchase plan. The company is also increasing an existing bank guarantee facility to AU$100 million from AU$75 million, adding a new revolving credit facility of AU$50 million to fund working capital needs, and signed a new AU$50 million facility to fund future acquisitions.
Following the completion of these capital initiatives, the company expects to have pro forma liquidity of about AU$308.8 million, it said.
Southern Cross also appointed Peter Bierton to the newly created role of chief operating officer, effective Aug. 24. Bierton most recently served as the CEO of Mainmark, a ground engineering and asset preservation company.
Trading in the company's shares was halted.
Nextdc's shares were up almost 4% in recent Monday trade, while Rio Tinto's shares gained roughly 2%.