Group revenue, trading profits* and margins are all ahead of last year. Results include the benefit from currency against the equivalent period last year, and a full contribution from Euromed, acquired in May 2016.
Healthcare sales grew 7.9%, or 2.1% at constant exchange rates, with improvement in both trading profit and margins.
Industrial continues to benefit from the margin improvement programs. During the period the Group successfully completed the sale of the Rorschach property in Switzerland for CHF17.1m (£13.6m), and acquired Markel Industries for US$10m (£7.8m).
We remain confident of strong progress for the year, and we anticipate the profit for the year will be ahead of current expectations.
The Group will release its results for the half year on 21 November 2017.