I NEED A CHART VIEW ON AVON RUBBER SINCE SHARES TIPPED THE STOCK IT HAS GONE SIDEWAYS VIEWS APPERICATED CHEERS

AVON Avon Rubber breaking out from a 6 week range formation. As been tipped several times over the XMAS period. New Products new customers.

AVON one of the Telegraphs TIPS OF THE YEAR FOR 2015

Avon Rubber
John Ficenec

The Wiltshire-based gas mask maker Avon Rubber is enjoying a strong increase in profits as the US military places big orders for new kit.

Chief executive Peter Slabbert hailed an “excellent year” after strong demand from the US military. The company was placed as the sole US defence supplier, where it is locked midway into a 10-year contract. Avon said orders of its M50 gas mask provided good revenue visibility.

The company said pre-tax profits were up from £13.7m to £16.6m during the year, on revenue flat at £124.8m. The company reported a debt free balance at the year end. Avon also generated plenty of cash during the year, as it comes to the end of a major investment phase in a new facility. The annual dividend is expected to increase by more than 20pc and is covered eight times by earnings. The shares have been on a fantastic run rising more than 28pc in the past year to hit a new record high. However, trading on 16 times forecast earnings they still look good value given the growing profits and solid balance sheet.

AVON Trades so far this morning nearly all Buys.......


09:11:00 760.00 1,500 O 752.50 765.00 Buy 16,688 814
10:08:03 764.38 77 O 752.50 765.00 Buy 15,188 814
10:00:35 764.38 130 O 752.50 765.00 Buy 15,111 814
09:51:19 763.24 845 O 751.50 765.00 Buy 14,981 814
09:49:59 760.00 33 AT 750.50 765.00 Buy 14,136 814
09:44:51 761.25 368 O 760.00 765.00 Sell 14,103 814
09:33:18 765.00 443 AT 760.00 765.00 Buy 14,103 446
09:33:11 765.00 261 AT 751.50 765.00 Buy 13,660 446
09:21:28 765.00 261 O 751.50 765.00 Buy 13,399 446
09:18:49 764.33 63 O 751.50 765.00 Buy 13,138 446
09:12:02 762.00 500 AT 751.50 763.00 Buy 13,075 446
09:11:50 762.00 500 O 751.50 762.00 Buy 12,575 446
09:10:03 757.00 500 AT 750.50 760.00 Buy 12,075 446
09:09:06 757.00 261 O 750.50 757.00 Buy 11,575 446
08:56:18 756.53 128 O 747.50 757.00 Buy 11,314 446
08:56:09 756.50 212 AT 745.50 757.00 Buy 11,186 446
08:56:09 756.50 1 AT 745.50 756.50 Buy 10,974 446
08:55:59 756.50 656 O 745.50 756.50 Buy 10,973 446
08:48:00 755.95 23 O 745.50 756.50 Buy 10,317 446
08:46:30 755.95 66 O 745.50 756.50 Buy 10,294 446
08:40:58 755.95 132 O 745.50 756.50 Buy 10,228 446
08:37:37 755.95 66 O 745.50 756.50 Buy 10,096 446
08:34:47 750.00 2,500 AT 740.50 756.50 Buy 10,030 446
08:34:37 750.00 250 O 740.50 750.00 Buy 7,530 446
08:33:02 748.00 2,500 AT 740.50 750.00 Buy 7,280 446
08:33:02 747.50 330 AT 740.50 748.00 Buy 4,780 446
08:26:19 747.15 239 O 740.50 747.50 Buy 4,450 446
08:24:51 747.28 401 O 736.50 747.50 Buy 4,211 446
08:20:27 746.95 133 O 736.50 747.50 Buy 3,810 446
08:15:24 746.95 135 O 736.50 747.50 Buy 3,677 446
08:12:38 747.28 321 O 736.50 747.50 Buy 3,542 446
08:05:45 736.50 200 AT 736.50 747.50 Sell 3,221 446
08:02:30 738.50 246 O 735.50 747.50 Sell 3,221 246
08:01:55 744.81 666 O 735.50 747.50 Buy 3,221 0
08:01:12 743.50 500 AT 735.50 745.00 Buy 2,555 0
08:01:12 743.00 256 AT 735.50 743.50 Buy 2,055 0
08:00:43 741.50 248 AT 730.50 743.00 Buy 1,799 0
08:00:39 743.00 740 AT 730.50 743.50 Buy 1,551 0
08:00:39 743.00 273 AT 730.50 743.00 Buy 811 0
08:00:32 742.75 538 O 730.50 743.00 Buy 538 0

WEEKLY TRADES VOLUME HISTORY

Date Buy Vol Sell Vol Total Vol
24/12/2014 765 2,150 2,915
23/12/2014 6,489 2,668 9,157
22/12/2014 19,911 28,652 48,563

PERIODIC TRADES VOLUME SUMMARY

Date Low Vol High Vol Avg Vol
1 week 2,915 48,563 16,639
1 month 2,915 649,433 45,412
3 months 1,670 649,433 34,516
1 year 496 649,433 31,990

LATEST BROKER VIEWS

Date Broker New target Recomm.
19 Nov WH Ireland... 825.00 Buy
19 Nov Investec 800.00 Buy
19 Nov N+1 Singer 760.00 Buy
7 Oct N+1 Singer 750.00 Buy
3 Oct Investec 720.00 Buy
3 Oct N+1 Singer 720.00 Buy
6 Aug Investec 700.00 Add
10 Jun Investec 680.00 Add
6 Jun N+1 Singer 720.00 Buy
6 May N+1 Singer 720.00 Buy
Broker Recommendations for Avon Rubber

Annual General Meeting - trading update for the quarter ended 31 December 2014
Avon is pleased to report that trading in the first quarter of the financial year has continued in line with the Board's expectations.

Protection & Defence
In Protection & Defence, after delivering a high level of non-DOD orders during the 2014 financial year, mask systems production has, as planned, been focused on fulfilling deliveries to the DoD under our 10 year sole source contract for the JSGPM M50 mask. This is likely to continue for the remainder of the first half year.

Encouragingly, there is a high level of quotes out for our higher margin export military masks although, as always, the timing of order receipt remains unpredictable. We have seen year on year growth in our fire service products in the first quarter and the level of enquiries for our new Deltair SCBA have been strong. Our flexible fabrications business, AEF, has secured orders which will sustain production into the second half of the financial year.

Dairy
The positive momentum generated in the second half of 2014 in the Dairy business has continued and trading has been extremely strong in the first quarter. Take up by farms of the innovative Cluster Exchange service remains at encouraging levels in both North America and Europe.

We have also set up a sales and distribution facility in Brazil to service the Brazilian and wider South American dairy market.

Balance sheet
The Group continues to be strongly cash generative. Net cash at 31 December 2014 was £6.4m (30 September 2014: £2.9m).

StockMarketWire.com
Avon Rubber has completed the acquisition of 100% of the share capital of Hudstar Systems for $5.1m in cash from existing cash resources.

Florida-based Hudstar is a leading designer and manufacturer of electronic control systems used in powered and supplied air respiratory protection systems, largely for Avon's award winning Deltair product.

Avon says that Hudstar is a private US company and does not produce audited accounts. Nevertheless, based on the cost savings that are expected to be achieved, Avon expects this acquisition to be modestly earnings enhancing to the group in its next full financial year.

StockMarketWire.com
Avon Rubber's wholly owned subsidiary, Avon Rubber Italia, has acquired 100% of the share capital and shareholder loan notes of InterPuls, for an enterprise value of €29.75m, including the assumption of InterPuls's net debt of approximately €4.0m.

The cash consideration of €25.75m was paid on completion and was funded from existing Group cash balances and existing debt facilities.

InterPuls - etablished in 1974 and located in Albinea - is a private family owned company incorporated in Italy. InterPuls has developed a unique range of specialist milking components, including pulsators, milk meters, automatic cluster removers and vacuum pumps, enabling customers throughout the world to configure state of the art milking systems.

In addition to traditional milking components, InterPuls is expanding into high-technology sensors and devices to monitor the life cycle of a cow, analysing milk production, reproduction and health data to provide critical management information to increase operational efficiency of the farm. Following the acquisition its products will be sold under the new 'Milkrite-InterPuls' brand, which will be positioned as a leading provider of milking point technology, providing complete teat to pipeline solutions for the Dairy sector.

Avon expects the acquisition to be significantly earnings enhancing in its 2016 financial year.

Closing statement for the year end 30 September 2015
Avon is pleased to report that the financial year has ended strongly.

This was primarily driven by the receipt and rapid fulfillment of a late order for respirators from a customer in the Middle East. This, together with strong trading in our North American law enforcement market, leads the Board to anticipate that the adjusted operating profit for the year will be significantly ahead of current market expectations.

As reported in the 2 September 2015 trading update, a number of high value Middle Eastern opportunities remain in the pipeline and we still expect to see the benefit of these orders in 2016.

Commenting, Andrew Lewis, Interim Chief Executive Officer said, "We have world leading respiratory protection products and, while predicting the timing of orders is often difficult, the ability to meet this customer's requirement demonstrates our operational flexibility and the dedication of the team to exceed our customers' expectations."

Preliminary results for the year ended 30 September 2015 will be announced on 18 November 2015.

StockMarketWire.com
Avon Rubber continues to be strongly cash generative despite dairy market conditions remaining soft in the first quarter.

In Protection & Defence, mask systems production has, as planned, been focused on fulfilling deliveries to the DOD under a 10 year sole source contract for the JSGPM M50 mask.

Avon says it continues to see a number of higher margin export opportunities although, as always, the timing of order receipt remains unpredictable.

It adds: "We are currently planning for one of these to be received and fulfilled in the first half of this financial year.

"The integration of the Argus business acquired in October 2015 has progressed well, with the manufacturing operation moved from Chelmsford to our Melksham facility during the Christmas period."

The group says that as previously highlighted, general market conditions for dairy farmers, particularly in Europe, have been weak as milk prices have been low.

It says this typically cyclical market dynamic has, as expected, reduced demand for its consumable products as farmers extend the life through over using product. The capital nature of the InterPuls product makes the replacement cycle longer. The take up by farms of the innovative Cluster Exchange service remains at encouraging levels in both North America and Europe.

It adds; "We are pleased with the integration of InterPuls, acquired in August 2015, into the wider Dairy business and expect to realise the long-term strategic benefits that have been identified in due course."

The group says it continues to be strongly cash generative. Net debt at 31 December was GBP10.0m (30 September: GBP13.2m).

StockMarketWire.com
Avon Rubber has won an order for 166,623 M50 mask systems worth USD42m under its 10 year sole source contract with the US Department of Defense. This order secures the anticipated volume of M50 mask system sales to the DOD for our 2016 financial year.

Chief executive Rob Rennie said: "The continued fielding of our M50 mask to all US service personnel pursuant to the JSGPM contract vehicle continues in line with our expectations. The M50 provides US troops with state of the art protection against CBRN threats."

Ex-divi Thurs 6th Aug (3.16p)

StockMarketWire.com
Avon Rubber expects full-year pre-tax profits to be in line with current market forecasts.

The group's trading update for the five months ended 31 August says: "In Protection & Defence, we are pleased to announce that our unique CBRN/CO Escape Hood has received NIOSH approval and we have received an order worth $9m from a major US city police department for this new product, the majority of which will be delivered this financial year.

"Mask systems production has, as planned, been focused on fulfilling deliveries to the US Department of Defense under our 10 year sole source contract for the JSGPM M50 mask systems. We continue to see a number of higher margin export opportunities for military masks although, as always, the timing of order receipt is unpredictable; these opportunities remain live and are being progressed, albeit more slowly than previously expected, with the result that we now expect to receive and deliver these orders in our 2017 financial year."

Dairy:

It says: "General market conditions for dairy farmers have been weak for the majority of the period, as milk prices have been low. This cyclical market dynamic has, as expected, reduced demand for our consumable products as farmers overuse product to extend its life. This has been more noticeable in the InterPuls business where the nature of the product is more capital/semi-consumable than consumable.

"Milk prices in our major markets do, however, appear to have bottomed-out and have started to improve in the final quarter.

"The programme for the roll out of InterPuls products through existing Milkrite distribution in the US has commenced with the first revenues seen in the final quarter of the financial year.

"This, together with our expectation that the recent improvement in milk price will continue and positively impact demand for our products, leaves the Board confident of the ability of the Dairy business to make progress in 2017."

Chief executive Rob Rennie said: "The 2016 result demonstrates the robustness of our business and we exit the year as a stronger business looking forward to the many opportunities available to us in 2017."

Full year results for the year ended 30 September will be announced on 16 November.

Excellent set of interim results this morning.

An unexpected 30% hike in the interim divi too.

StockMarketWire.com
Avon Rubber has won contract to supply approximately 37,000 of its FM50 respirators together with a range of related spares and accessories to an unnamed customer.

Avon said it expected to fulfil the order during the first half of its 2018 financial year.

Chief executive Paul McDonald said "I am pleased to announce this contract award, which reflects our further expansion into foreign military markets.

"This will strengthen our year end order book and gives us continued confidence heading into our 2018 financial year."

anyone in the know re avon drop today?

StockMarketWire.com
Avon Rubber has received confirmation from the US Department of Defense of the group's participation under the joint enterprise - research, development, acquisition and production/procurement contract vehicle.

The JE-RDAP is an $8.2bn, 10-year multiple award framework contract which establishes a group of qualified contractors to compete for orders in relation to chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and enhanced conventional weapons defence systems, equipment and material.

Avon said the JE-RDAP framework was important to the group as it was the procurement structure under which two CBRNe programmes, the M53A1 respirator and the M69 aircrew mask system would be purchased.

It added: 'These programmes are potentially significant to the group in the medium term and, having secured participation under JE-RDAP, initial task orders are expected to be received during the course of 2018.'

Jefferies International today initiates coverage of Avon Rubber PLC (LON:AVON) with a buy investment rating and price target of 1230p.

Avon calling!! (Had a S/L on at 900-glad it did not go that low)

StockMarketWire.com
Avon Rubber has received an order for 53,000 M50 mask systems worth $14.3m from the US Department of Defense.

The company said this order together with the closing order book of 49,000 mask systems as at 30 Sep, secures the anticipated sales of M50 mask systems to the DoD for its 2018 financial year.

Berenberg today initiates coverage of Avon Rubber PLC (LON:AVON) with a buy investment rating and price target of 1715p.

US Department of Defense M50 Mask Systems Order
Avon Rubber p.l.c. is pleased to announce the receipt of an order for 93,000 M50 mask systems worth $25.0 million from the US Department of Defense ("DoD").

This order further contributes towards building the order book for our 2019 financial year and we continue to pursue a number of identified opportunities with the DoD and Rest of World Military customers to build the order book further.