Chemicals group Johnson Matthey yesterday told shareholders that it had an "encouraging start" to the new financial year with EPS (earnings per share) up seven per cent compared to a year earlier.
Chairman John Banham said in an AGM statement the company expects growth in the second half to be stronger than the first.
Catalyst sales have risen in all areas except North America, he said, while precious metals benefited from "favourable trading conditions for platinum group metals and good growth in its manufacturing operations".
Of the company's two smaller divisions, pharmaceutical materials was slightly ahead of last year while ceramics was similar to last year with continued good cash generation.
