Croda International 1H Pretax Profit GBP96.2M On Revenue GBP516.1M

27th Jul 2010 07:26

LONDON (Dow Jones)--Croda International PLC (CRDA.LN) said Tuesday that for the six months ended June 30, it made a pretax profit of GBP96.2 million compared with GBP46.3m in the previous year. MAIN FACTS: -Revenue GBP516.1 million (2009: GBP404.5 million) -Operating profit GBP100.8 million (2009: GBP53.7 million) -Pretax profit GBP96.2 million (2009: GBP46.3 million) -Earnings per share 45.9 pence (2009: loss 6.8 pence) -Interim dividend 9.75 pence (2009: 6.5 pence) -Net debt reduced by a further GBP18.8 million to GBP269.7 million -Sales were up 27.6% to GBP516.1 million (2009: GBP404.5 million) reflecting strong performances in both the Consumer Care and Industrial Specialities divisions and continued growth in all main markets -Strong growth in personal care ingredients business drives Consumer Care profit increase -Benefiting in full from the acquisition of Uniqema in 2006 as well as from the initiatives taken to reduce costs. -Expects to make further profit progress throughout the rest of the year. -Strong trading across the business has continued into the first weeks of the second half. -With only six to eight weeks of visibility in order books, it is hard to predict whether this trend will continue over the medium term -Shares closed Monday at 1173.0 pence. By Iain Packham, Dow Jones Newswires; 44-20-7842-9269; [email protected] Order free Annual Report for Croda International PLC Visit http://djnweurope.ar.wilink.com/?ticker=GB0002335270 or call +44 (0)208 391 6028 (END) Dow Jones Newswires July 27, 2010 02:26 ET (06:26 GMT)