MXG multiplex group

Friday March 31, 9:19 PMMultiplex set for court over...

  1. 66 Posts.
    Friday March 31, 9:19 PM

    Multiplex set for court over Wembley
    Multiplex Ltd has reportedly withheld all late-delivery penalty
    payments for non-completion of Wembley in a dispute that threatens to
    go to court.

    The contract between the FA - through its subsidiary Wembley National
    Stadiums Ltd (WNSL) - and Multiplex stipulates payment of STG140,000
    ($A343,137) per day by the Australian company for each day beyond the
    original January 31, 2006 delivery date.

    However Multiplex was reportedly preparing to argue the point, saying
    late specification changes by WNSL caused the delays.

    "We believe they have made enough design changes that would entitle us
    to extensions of time," an unnamed Multiplex insider said in The
    Guardian newspaper.

    "So far we have not had a single hour's extension.

    "But we believe we are entitled at the minimum to the end of September
    this year - an eight-month extension.

    "That's being conservative.

    "The reality is that it could stretch way into next year."

    Multiplex expected building work on the stadium in north London to be
    substantially completed by the end of June at the earliest.

    However the FA said it would not be totally finished until the end of
    September, with a further two months of test events then required,
    hence the cancellation of all 2006 events.

    That includes the FA Cup final, August's Community Shield - the
    traditional Premier League curtain raiser between the league champions
    and FA Cup holders - two England qualifiers for Euro 2008, rugby
    league's Challenge Cup final and concerts by Bon Jovi, Take That, the
    Rolling Stones and Robbie Williams.

    The Guardian reported the transferral of these events and costs
    associated with the re-development could cost the FA STG32 million.

    Multiplex now hopes to have the contractor's works substantially
    completed by the end of June, but has advised client WNSL that it has
    grounds to extend the contract until at least September.

    "Notwithstanding that it is Multiplex's belief that it has until at
    least September to complete, Multiplex is targeting substantial
    completion by end of June," Multiplex company secretary Mark Wilson
    said in a statement.

    However even if Multiplex hits it June-end target, further works such
    as commissioning and cleaning need to be completed after this date.

    The company had been working towards completing the stadium by May,
    despite the fact that the English Football Association (FA) had
    scratched plans to hold the May 13 FA Cup final there because of the
    delays.

    A Multiplex spokesman said that WNSL bore responsibility for the
    scheduling program.

    "As the client has chosen not to integrate their works and operational
    activities, these works will complete after our forecast date for
    substantial completion of the stadium," he said.

    "The question of events therefore rests with WNSL and the Football Association."

    WNSL has decided to hold off on its own works at the stadium until
    after Multiplex has finished, departing from the original plan for an
    integrated approach.

    "Multiplex's client, Wembley National Stadium Ltd, is solely
    responsible for determining when it starts and completes its works and
    also when and which events are hosted at the stadium," Mr Wilson said.

    Multiplex does not expect further adjustments to the project's
    financial position following additional allowances in the company's
    latest interim results to cover any further unforseen delays.

    Multiplex posted a $119.6 million net loss for the first half of
    2005/06 after taking a $250.7 million after-tax hit from Wembley
    losses for the period.

    Its total losses from the project have topped STG200 million ($A475 million).

    The project had originally been scheduled for completion on January 31.

    Multiplex shares closed three cents lower at $3.07 on Friday.
 
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