BRUSSELS - Belgian holding company Ackermans & van Haaren said on Monday that its third-quarter turnover and operational cash flow was in line with expectations, boosted by full fleet usage in its dredging business.

Ackermans concentrates on five key sectors -- dredging through its 50 percent stake in DEME; financial services, private equity; real estate; and a recently created energy division.

The company said the outstanding order book in DEME, driven by several new contracts in Venezuela, Mexico, and the United Kingdom, stood at 2,081 million euros ($3.10 billion) and compared with 2,127 million euros in June 2009 and 1,906 million euros at the end of 2008.

But it said in a statement that the current economic crisis still called for great caution.

DEME, Leasinvest Real Estate, Finaxis and the new segment Energy and materials offer good prospects even in the current market circumstances, the company said.

The real estate promotion and private equity activities remain subject to the impact of the present economic recession and the strength of the potential recovery, it added. ($1=.6722 euros) (Reporting by Bate Felix)

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