An excellent set of results for Kidde the summary of which is below. Link to full set of results is :- http://moneyam.uk-wire.com/cgi-bin/articles/200403040700281235W.html

Kidde PLC
4 March 2004


4 March 2004

Kidde plc

Preliminary results for the year ended 31 December 2003


Kidde plc, the global fire and safety group, today announces its results for the
year ended 31 December 2003.


Highlights

• Sales up 6.6% to 938.1m (879.7m in 2002)

• Divisional profit up 2.3% to 107.6m (105.2m in 2002)

• Operating profit up 14.3% to 92.7m (81.1m in 2002)

• Profit before tax up 26.5% to 86.5m (68.4m in 2002)

• Operating cash flow equivalent to 110.5% of operating profit

• Net debt reduced to 264.6m, interest cover 4.5 times

• Adjusted EPS up 12.8% to 8.8 p, basic EPS up 26.8% to 7.1p

• Final dividend up 6.5% to 1.81p, giving a total of 2.70p per share for
the year

• Year end order book similar levels of last year.



Michael Harper, Kidde's Chief Executive, commented:

'The results for 2003 demonstrate the ability of the Group to make progress
despite the challenging market conditions and the adverse exchange rate
environment. We are pleased to have resumed organic growth and are encouraged
by the improvements made through the reorganisation initiatives which will feed
through to margins in the coming year.

Our continued success in generating operating cash has reduced debt which,
together with the recently announced disposal of our stake in Baxi, will
facilitate an infill acquisition programme in 2004 at a higher rate than in
2003. We will maintain the Group's stringent investment criteria.

We have commenced 2004 with a good order book and with more favourable prospects
in our core markets than for some time. Accordingly, we expect our businesses
to make further progress this year.'



Enquiries

Kidde plc +44 (0)1753 689 848
Michael Harper, Chief Executive
John Nicholas, Group Finance Director
Garth Watkins, Investor Relations Manager


Finsbury Group +44 (0) 20 7251 3801
Edward Orlebar
Charlotte Hepburne-Scott


A copy of this announcement is available at
www.kidde.com

http://www.kidde.com