Halma PLC (LSE:HLMA) says it has made "further progress" in the second half of its financial year to 31 March but has kept financial guidance unchanged.
The FTSE 100-listed safety products group said growth had been strong in the face of "varied market conditions", though it has continued to invest in future growth opportunities, with £299 million spent on eight acquisitions, three of which were signed in the second half.
Adjusted profit is expected to be in line with the current City analyst consensus of around £388.5 million, with forecasts in a range from £376 million to £393.5 million, while cash conversion has been ahead of expectations. The strengthening of the pound against the dollar and euro has hit results, it added.
"We have delivered strong constant currency revenue growth in the year to date, comprising good momentum on an organic constant currency basis and a continued healthy contribution from recent acquisitions (net of disposals)," Halma said.
Going by sector, revenue growth at Environmental & Analysis was "strong", in Safety it was "good" but Healthcare saw "weak" second-half trends in the Life Sciences and Healthcare Assessment & Analytics subsectors, partly offset by strong growth in Therapeutic Solutions.
Sales in the US and mainland Europe were also strong, let down by modest growth in the UK, though a decline in Asia Pacific revenue in the first half improved in the second half though no return to growth was mentioned.