Australian business increases turnover for Tristel

Infection protection and contamination control specialists Tristel increased turnover by 19% to £20.3m in its financial year ended 30 June.

The driving force for the improvement had been the firm's 43% higher overseas sales, coming as a result of the successful acquisition of its Australian distributor's business earlier in the year, as well as a welcome kick from several of its products being added to the French list of approved disinfectants.

The £9.6m of revenue coming from abroad in the financial year ended 30 June, up from £6.7m a year earlier, accounted for 47% of Tristel's total sales.

EBITDA shot up 26% to £5.4m as pre-tax profit finished the year out hot on its heels at 24% higher for a total of £4.1m.

Net cash dropped from £5.7m to £5.1m while the company remained debt free.

Paul Swinney, chief executive, said, "We are pleased with the progress made this year. Sales and profitability exceeded both market expectations and our internal plan."

Earnings per share soared 61% to 8.06p.

In a different Thursday morning announcement, the AIM-listed company revealed that it had appointed Tom Jenkins to a non-executive director's position, bringing some City experience from Dresdner Kleinwort Benson and Bear Stearns and most recently as head of equity capital markets at FinnCap.

Paul Swinney, chief executive of Tristel, said, "He brings a wealth of public company experience which will be invaluable in helping us achieve our ambitions. We very much look forward to working with him."

As of 0730 BST, shares in Tristel had ticked down 0.92% to 292.30p.