Mcbride Regulatory News (MCB)

6 Jul 2007 11:20

McBride PLC06 July 2007 Release replaces Trading Statement released at 0700, 06/07/07. Date has beenamended in the third paragraph. 6 July 2007 McBride plc PRE CLOSE STATEMENT McBride plc ('the Group'), Europe's leading provider of private label householdand personal care products, today provides an update on trading prior toentering its close period. Turnover for the 2006-7 financial year was approximately £589m (2006/7 £540m).Earnings before interest tax and exceptional items will be marginally below theaverage of market expectations, mainly due to a slightly weaker end to the year's trading in the UK, but the Group anticpates that its profit after taxwill be within expectations. Net debt at 30 June 2007 was approximately £81m. The Group has recentlycompleted an increase in its core bank borrowing facility from £100m to £150m. Miles Roberts, Chief Executive, said 'this has been another busy year forMcBride. We have acquired and integrated five new businesses into the Group,which greatly increases our exposure to the fast growing German and Italianmarkets as well as enhancing our product mix. With an improving margin inContinental Europe and the benefits of recent acquisitions yet to be fullyrealised, McBride is well placed to further drive both the growth of privatelabel share across Europe and value for our shareholders.' The Group intends to announce its preliminary results for the year ended 30 June2007 on 6 September 2007. For further information please contact: McBride plc Bob Beveridge, Group Finance Director 01494 607051 Miles Roberts, Chief Executive 01494 607050 Andrew Dowler, Financial Dynamics 020 7831 3113 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange