The lawsuit, which started two years ago, was brought to the Federal Court in Denver, Colorado, by Standard Bank.

The lawsuit involved a coal mine in Southern Indiana at which Pincock Allen & Holt did work in 2005-06.

The Colorado judge found in favour of Pincock Allen & Holt this week and dismissed the civil action.

“We were pleased to receive the judgement dismissing the civil action against our subsidiary Pincock Allen & Holt,” Runge managing director Tony Kinnane said.

“As indicated in our 2008 prospectus, we were confident that Pincock Allen & Holt would succeed in this litigation.”

Standard Bank has 30 days to appeal the decision.