Financial highlights:
· Continued strong earnings growth in challenging trading conditions
· Group revenue declined 0.7% to £650.3m, with volume and ARP marginally down
· Group EBITA increased 6.2% to £64.7m, underpinned by disciplined cost management
· Group EBITA margin improvement of 60bps on last year
· Half year adjusted EPS of 16.4p, an increase of 11.6% on last year
· Interim dividend of 6.7p (+9.8%), reflecting earnings growth and confidence in future prospects
· Reduction in adjusted net debt of £31.7m, leading to a 0.4x reduction in adjusted net debt:EBITDA ratio
· Full year EBIT guidance remains unchanged at £164m to £173m
