Interim dividend increased by 17.5% to 3.8 pence per share
£60M share buyback to reduce capital ratio to around 50%
Chief Executive Officer, Gerard Ryan, commented:
"Our strategy is delivering stronger growth and has resulted in a record first half profit. Our expansion plans are on track and we have made good progress on new product development which is helping to strengthen our customer relationships. In addition, today's announcement of the £60M share buyback is a further sign of our commitment to operating with a more efficient balance sheet and delivering increased shareholder returns. We believe there are opportunities to deliver substantial medium to long-term growth and we are confident of further progress."
