Oxford Instruments sees stronger H2
Hi-tech tool manufacturer Oxford Instruments said first half pre-tax profit fell to £12.5m from £13.2m the year before but sees an improved second half.
Hi-tech tool manufacturer Oxford Instruments said first half pre-tax profit fell to £12.5m from £13.2m the year before but sees an improved second half.
The group, which makes and supplies tools and systems with a focus on research and industrial applications, said revenue surged over 40% in a 'robust' market environment and as it introduced new products.
Revenue for the six months to 30 September 2011 rose 41% to £159m with organic growth of 30%. Adjusted profit before tax rose to £18.7m from £10.6m before.
Subscribe to 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
Order intake rose 24% to £175m in the six-month period. Oxford saw continued growth in China with orders up 53%.
Chairman Nigel Keen said, "Our broad spread of geographies and technologies, and our strong pipeline of new products should help us to remain resilient in the event of a global economic downturn. We are continuing our active pursuit of acquisitions that have the potential to enhance shareholder value and add to our range of technical capabilities."
"Trading since the period end has remained strong and the Board believes that performance in the second half of the year is likely to exceed that of the first half," he added.
The company, which recently bought US medical firm Platinum Medical Imaging, said its acquisitions of Omicron NanoTechnology and Omniprobe in June are integrating well and performing to plan.
The interim dividend has been lifted 10% to 2.77p.
--
cj
Sign up for MoneyWeek's newsletters
Get the latest financial news, insights and expert analysis from our award-winning MoneyWeek team, to help you understand what really matters when it comes to your finances.
-
What happens if you can’t pay your tax bill, and what is "Time to Pay"?
Millions are due to file their tax return this Friday as the self-assessment deadline closes. Though the nightmare is not over until you pay the taxman what you owe - or face a penalty. But what happens if you can't afford to pay HMRC your tax bill, and what is "Time to Pay"?
By Kalpana Fitzpatrick Published
-
What does Rachel Reeves’s plan for growth mean for UK investors?
Rachel Reeves says she is going “further and faster” to kickstart the UK economy, but investors are unlikely to be persuaded
By Katie Williams Published