Morgan Advanced Materials increases its 2015 interim dividend by 2.6%

DividendMax Ltd.

Morgan Advanced Materials increases its 2015 interim dividend by 2.6%

Financial Highlights

Group revenue at £469.2 million (H1 2014: £448.4 million) was up 4.6% on a reported basis; on a constant currency basis, revenue was up 3.1% compared to the first half of 2014 with all operating regions achieving revenue growth.

Overall order intake in the first half was solid with a book-to-bill ratio of 1.03x with all three operating regions above 1.00x. The order book at the end of June was 5.7% higher than at the end of June 2014.

Group EBITA margin for the first half of the year was 13.0% (H1 2014: 12.6%). There were no one-off or restructuring charges in the first half and hence the Group underlying margin was 13.0% compared to 12.1% last year, up 90 basis points.

Underlying EPS was up 18.9% to 12.6 pence (H1 2014: 10.6 pence).

Significant investment continued to be made in the Group's future with R&D spend increasing to 2.7% of sales (H1 2014: 2.4%) and capital expenditure focussed on key profitable growth markets.

Net debt at the half-year was £217.1 million (Full-year 2014: £207.0 million). Net debt to EBITDA ratio at the half-year was 1.4x (Full-year 2014: 1.4x).

Interim dividend increased by 2.6% to 4.0 pence per share (2014: Interim 3.9 pence per share).


Interim Dividend

The Board has declared an interim dividend of 4.0 pence per ordinary share. This is an increase of 2.6% compared to the interim dividend declared in 2014. The dividend will be paid on 27 November 2015 to Ordinary shareholders on the register of members at the close of business on 6 November 2015.

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