Trading Statement

20 Dec 2007 07:04

McBride PLC20 December 2007 McBride plc 20 December 2007 Pre Close Trading Statement McBride plc, Europe's leading provider of Private Label household and personalcare products, today provides an update on trading for the six months ending 31December 2007. First half Group revenues will be ahead of last year driven by the contributionfrom recent acquisitions. At the organic level personal care and ContinentalEurope have continued to grow but the UK and France household markets have beenvery competitive. The net result is that organic Group revenues for the periodare expected to be in line with last year. The overall performance of the recently acquired businesses has been good, inline with our expectations. In common with the industry we have experienced unprecedented increases in thecost of raw materials. This has had a significant impact on the second quarterof our financial year and we expect these costs to remain high for the secondhalf. We are negotiating price increases with our customers and implementingmeasures, including restructuring, to ameliorate these costs. In the light ofthese pressures we anticipate that the overall operating margin in the firsthalf will be below that in the comparable period last year. However, theoperating profit, reflecting the contribution from recent acquisitions, isexpected to be in line with the first half of last year. The result for the full year will depend on the extent of any further increasesin raw material costs and the outcome of the current price negotiations with ourcustomers. The Group intends to announce its Interim results for the six months ending 31December 2007 on 7 February 2008. Note: Operating profit and operating margin are defined throughout as beforeamortisation of goodwill and exceptional items. For further information please contact : Miles Roberts, McBride plc Chief Executive 01494 607050 Stuart Miller McBride plc Interim Finance Director 01494 607050 Andrew Dowler Financial Dynamics 020 7831 3113 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange