30 April 2007
Filtrona plc (‘Filtrona’) is holding its Annual General Meeting at 12 noon today.
Filtrona plc (‘Filtrona’) is holding its Annual General Meeting at 12 noon today:
At the meeting, Jeff Harris, Chairman, will make the following statement to shareholders:
“In the first quarter of 2007, Filtrona has delivered an encouraging performance with the underlying organic growth rate ahead of last year. However, as expected, the adverse impact of currency translation, and particularly the movement of the US dollar, has reduced the Company’s reported growth towards historical rates.
Plastic Technologies has continued to perform well. Protection and Finishing Products’ momentum continues and Coated and Security Products has experienced some recovery in promotional tear tape volumes. The recovery at Globalpack has been sustained whilst the US Profile and Sheet business has encountered more challenging trading conditions.
The Company was particularly pleased to announce earlier this month the acquisition for $61m, subject to regulatory approval, of the Duraco business in Chicago which will be an important addition to the Protection and Finishing Products business.
Fibre Technologies’ profit performance has been strong with good contributions from both the Cigarette Filters and Bonded Fibre Components businesses despite the weakness in cigarette filter volumes which has been as expected.
The previously announced restructuring programme within the Cigarette Filters business is progressing to plan. The closure of the Filters facility in Richmond, Virginia was communicated to employees at the end of March and production has now ceased. Production volumes have been transferred to the other North American facilities in Greensboro, North Carolina and Monterrey, Mexico where sustained operational improvement is driving performance. The Bonded Fibres business continues to benefit from both market share gains and new projects.
Filtrona is again delivering strong underlying organic performance and, with the Duraco acquisition expected to supplement that growth, the Board has confidence that Filtrona’s financial performance will continue to progress well and in accordance with the Board’s expectations.”
Plastic Technologies produces, sources and distributes protection and finishing products, self-adhesive tear tape and certain security products as well as proprietary and customised plastic extrusions and packaging items for consumer products.
Fibre Technologies focuses on the production and supply of special filters for cigarettes and bonded fibre products such as reservoirs and wicks for writing instruments and printers, household products and medical diagnostic devices.