SIG increases 2012 full year dividend by a third

Highlights

·     Sales from continuing operations flat in constant currency, down 3.9% in Sterling

·     Continued market outperformance of 2.5%

·     Gross margin in continuing operations improved by 40bps to 26.1%

·     Tight control on overheads -  minimal increase in core operating costs

·     Underlying operating margin from continuing operations up 10bps to 3.7%

·     Underlying PBT in continuing operations up 4% in constant currency, down 0.5% in Sterling

·     Return on capital employed ("ROCE") increased by 70bps to 8.6%

·     Statutory profit before tax increased from £7.5m to £43.7m

·     Full year dividend up by a third to 3.0p per share