Funeral services provider Dignity reported an increase in underlying profit for the nine months ended 30 September as it acquired new funeral locations.
Underlying operating profit rose to £48.4 for the 39 weeks to September from £45m the year before. Revenue for the period rose 7.3% to £155.8m.
MoneyWeek
Subscribe to MoneyWeek today and get your first six magazine issues absolutely FREE
Sign up to Money Morning
Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter
Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter
"The Group remains on track to open its crematorium in Worcestershire in the fourth quarter of 2011 and its crematorium in Essex in the second quarter of 2012," Dignity explained.
The West Midlands firm has also been announced as the preferred bidder to operate one crematorium and three cemeteries on behalf of Haringey Council. This is expected to be effective during the first quarter of 2012.
Trading since 30 September 2011 continues to be in line with management's expectations and full year expectations remain unchanged.
Pre-arranged funeral plan sales continue to be strong.
--
cj
-
Inheritance tax pension reforms will delay payments to grieving families and the taxmanThe government is pressing ahead with plans to charge inheritance tax on pensions but there are warnings that it will be harder for executors to administer an estate and pay HMRC
-
More than a million pensioners set to be hit by tax on savings accountsA combination of higher interest rates and frozen tax thresholds is dragging more people into paying tax on their cash savings
