Pilkington plc announces interim results for the six months

Pre tax profits before goodwill amortisation and exceptional items rose by 14 per cent and earnings per share by over 20 per cent. These results are further evidence of the solid base they have built through the fundamental restructuring of the last four years.

Key features:

-Best first half year performance for a decade
-Turnover œ1.47 billion, up 8%
-Profit before goodwill amortisation, exceptional items and taxation œ120 million, up 14%
-Earnings per share before exceptional items up 21% to 5.1 pence.
-Dividend maintained at 1.75 pence

Chairman, Sir Nigel Rudd, commented:

“These are another set of impressive results, underlining further the progress achieved in the business. Whilst there has been a recent weakening of the markets for glass and the trading environment will be more challenging in the second half year, Pilkington today is in better shape than ever to meet these challenges and we expect a fourth year of progress.”