Trading Statement
September 25 2003 - 3:00AM
UK Regulatory
RNS Number:1463Q
Chloride Group PLC
25 September 2003
CHLORIDE GROUP PLC
TRADING STATEMENT
25 September 2003
Before entering its close period prior to the announcement of interim results on
30th October 2003, the Company is issuing the following statement on current
trading in line with its standard practice.
As anticipated, trading conditions remained difficult, especially in Continental
Europe, and also in China and South East Asia where the SARS epidemic adversely
impacted the performance of Chloride Masterguard Power Systems - Shanghai, which
was acquired in February 2003.
Despite these difficult conditions, and excluding China and the benefit of the
strengthened Euro, we have achieved organic growth in products and service,
which will result in increased sales in the first half, compared with the same
period last year. Although product sales are still affected by the absence of
large projects, we have benefited from an initial order from the reconstruction
of Iraq, and our solutions approach continues to generate good growth in higher
margin service revenues. We also continue to focus on improving overhead
efficiency and reducing product cost.
We still view the second half with caution in light of continuing uncertain
market conditions and severe pricing pressure. Nonetheless, provided that the
recent improved order trend can be maintained, and with the benefit of continued
service revenue growth, we anticipate stronger sales performance in the second
half.
Recent power problems experienced in both North America and London serve to
emphasise the increasing importance of continuous high quality power to support
business critical applications. This will continue to drive the prospects for
our business over the longer term.
Commenting on trading conditions for the six months to 30 September 2003 Keith
Hodgkinson, Chief Executive said: "We have made further progress despite
continuing difficult market conditions. We remain well positioned to extend our
product sales and service solutions across a wide range of critical
applications."
Enquires:
Chloride Group PLC Telephone: + 44 (0) 207 834 5500
Keith Hodgkinson (Chief Executive)
Neil Warner (Group Finance Director)
Hudson Sandler
Andrew Hayes Telephone: + 44 (0) 207 796 4133
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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