Sydney - Leighton Holdings Ltd, Australia's biggest construction company, on Thursday reported a 35-per-cent jump in profits, mostly on a rise in contract mining.

Leighton, which is 55-per-cent owned by Germany's Hochtief AG and delivers around 70 per cent of its profits, said profit rose to 607 million Australian dollars (520 million US dollars) for the year to June 30 on revenue that was up 22 per cent to 14 billion Australian dollars.

"The group's outlook remains strong for the 2009 financial year sustained by a record level of work in hand," Leighton chief executive Wal King said. "This workload should be maintained at similar levels given the opportunities that are likely to emerge in the group's core markets over the next year."

The company said it hoped to raise 700 million Australian dollars to fund mining in Australia, Indonesia and India. Leighton plans to raise the money through a rights offer.

Leighton forecast profit to rise at least 15 per cent in the 2009 financial year. dpa