The Halma Board has declared an increase of 7% in the interim dividend to 6.54p per share (2018/19: 6.11p per share). The interim dividend will be paid on 5 February 2020 to shareholders on the register on 24 December 2019.
Other financial highlights include:
Strong growth with Revenue up 12%, Adjusted Profit before Taxation up 14%, and Statutory Profit before Taxation up 12%, reflecting good organic and acquired growth.
Organic constant currency revenue growth up 5%, and organic constant currency; adjusted Profit before Taxation growth of 6%.
Organic constant currency revenue growth in all major regions, with good performances in the USA, UK and Asia Pacific, and solid growth in Mainland Europe.
Revenue growth in all four sectors on an organic constant currency basis, with three out of four sectors delivering growth in Adjusted Profit before Taxation on an organic constant currency basis.
Strong returns, with Return on Sales of 19.7% and ROTIC5 of 14.8%, as well as continued investment, with R&D expenditure up 12% and representing 5.3% of revenue.
Solid cash generation, with cash conversion of 82%.
Healthy acquisition pipeline with three acquisitions completed in the first half and two further acquisitions completed since the period end.
Robust balance sheet supporting sustained investment in organic growth and acquisitions, with net debt of £310.4m (including an increase from IFRS 16 of £57.0m) and net debt to EBITDA of 0.98 times..
