Reports 2006

The Group has seen strong profit growth in the period, with the Group realising the full-year benefits of the Stanley Retail acquisition and benefiting from good organic growth throughout the rest of the business. Profit before finance charges and exceptional items was 19% higher than last year and earnings per share excluding exceptional items increased by 24%

'The Group has seen strong profit growth in the period, with profit before finance charges and exceptional items 29.8% higher than last year. The Group has successfully integrated the Stanley Retail business and is on course to deliver the £20m of synergy and other benefits forecast at the end of 2005 for this acquisition.'