Interim Management Statement
The Group has continued to make progress towards its strategic objectives against a generally improving macro-economic environment.
ECS's trading results for the period were in line with management expectations albeit, as anticipated, below the levels for the comparative period of the previous financial year, largely reflecting very strong trading in Australia in the first quarter of that year.
Continued high levels of iron ore extraction in Australia, which have led to some easing of constraints on mines' operational expenditure, and further progress by ECS in hard rock mining in other regions have benefitted ECS's trading and order book.
ECS order intake rates typically decline during the winter. This year, the normal seasonality has combined with a number of factors, including corporate activity amongst our coal mining customers, to make ECS's forward order visibility in these markets more limited than usual.
AEP's trading and outlook are encouraging and have reflected generally improving macro-economic conditions. AEP is continuing to target opportunities in the oil & gas and medical industries and, as previously indicated, has increased revenue investment in both human capital and innovation to underpin a continuation of the strong organic growth achieved in recent years in this division.
It is now envisaged that AEP's revenue and operating profit will be slightly more weighted towards the second half of this financial year than previously anticipated, mainly due to the deferral of certain customer sales from the first half of the year to the second.
The expected full year outcome is unchanged in constant currency terms.
During the period, sterling has continued to strengthen against all the major currencies in which the Group's revenues are generated. Translation of the Group's results for its financial year ended 31 August 2013 using rates as at 31 December 2013 would have reduced underlying operating profit by approximately £9 million.
The Group's financial position remains strong, with net borrowing being in line with expectations.
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