Essentra increases 2014 interim dividend by 19%

HY 2014 highlights:

·     Revenue up 20% at constant FX (like-for-like¹ +9%) to £431m.

·     Accelerating momentum in Q2, with like-for-like¹ revenue growth of 10%.

·     Adjusted operating profit² up 14% (constant FX) to £69m.

·     Adjusted EPS² ahead 15% (constant FX) to 20.3p.

·     Improvement in net working capital to 13.9% of revenue (better by 70bps, constant FX).

·     Tax rate reduced by 200bps to 25.4%.

·     Net debt of £224m (FY 2013: £217m), with strong cash flow generation offset by higher dividend payments.

·     19% increase in the half year dividend to 5.7p per share.