Trading Update

 

TIDMFDT 
 
RNS Number : 5094K 
1st Dental Laboratories PLC 
21 April 2010 
 

 
                          1st Dental Laboratories plc 
                            (1st Dental or the Group) 
 
                        AGM Statement and Trading Update 
 
1st Dental Laboratories, the UK's largest and leading provider of dental 
laboratory products to the dental profession, will hold its Annual General 
Meeting today at 9.00 am at 112 Wetherby Road, Harrogate. 
 
Grahame Sewell, Chairman, will provide the following trading update at today's 
meeting: 
 
On 23rd March 2010, I reported in my Chairman's Statement that the Board's 
priority was to "manage a turnaround which can be sustainable and is not just a 
quick fix. We are driving a turnaround strategy. We are managing cultural change 
throughout the Group's trading operations. The Group's key objective is to 
re-build shareholder trust." 
 
I am pleased to report that the turnaround remains on course and trading is in 
line with management's expectations and the Group's annual budget. The focus is 
to manage the Group's existing operations more efficiently. This is being 
achieved through providing improved customer service and choice to the Group's 
dental clients.   The Group continues to improve productivity in the laboratory 
operations while maintaining tight control over central costs.  The objective is 
to be able to report a trading profit in this financial year. 
 
The Group is expected to meet this target and show a trading profit.  In the 
half year to 31st May 2009, the Group reported a loss before tax of GBP315k. In 
the current half year to 31st May 2010, we expect a return to profitability and 
be able to report a small profit before tax. The second half of the financial 
year is traditionally stronger than the first half because of seasonal factors. 
 
I look forward to reporting to shareholders on the results for the half year to 
31st May in due course. 
 
Grahame T Sewell 
Chairman 
 
                                    - Ends- 
 
For further information contact: 
 
+------------------------------+---------------------------------------------------------+ 
| Grahame T Sewell, Chairman   |                                            07767 350372 | 
| 1st Dental Laboratories plc  |                                                         | 
|                              |                                                         | 
+------------------------------+---------------------------------------------------------+ 
| William Vandyk               | 020 7448 4400                                           | 
| Astaire Securities plc       |                                                         | 
|                              |                                                         | 
+------------------------------+---------------------------------------------------------+ 
 
 
This information is provided by RNS 
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange 
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