Trading update

5 February 2015

Wincanton plc

('Wincanton' or the 'Group')

Trading update

Wincanton, a leading provider of supply chain solutions in the UK & Ireland, today issues the following trading update for the period from 1 October 2014 to the date of this announcement.

The Board is pleased to report that Wincanton continues to trade in line with expectations.

Within Contract Logistics, the Group successfully secured new business both with existing and new customers. The Construction sector continues to see good levels of activity which has supported further contract awards, notably the award of a new five year contract with Lavendon Group plc to outsource their in house logistics operations, delivering specialist powered mobile work platforms. In the Defence sector, contract wins included the extension of our relationship with BAE Systems, securing a new contract for additional on site logistics and warehousing activities for their Maritime operations.

In the Specialist Businesses segment, comprising Containers, Wincanton Records Management and Pullman Fleet Services, overall profit performance is in line with expectations although, as reported at the half year, margins have remained under pressure in the Pullman Fleet Services business in the second half of the year.

Changes in the price of fuel have had no material impact on the Group's profitability as contractual arrangements typically pass any fuel price risk through to the end customer. As fuel costs are mainly a flow through cost for Wincanton, the impact of the recent fall in fuel prices is largely limited to a modest decrease in gross costs and corresponding revenues year over year.

There has been no significant change to the general financial position of the Group from that disclosed in the interim results announcement for the half year ended 30 September 2014.

For further information please contact: 

Wincanton plc

Eric Born, Chief Executive 01249 710000

Adrian Colman, Group Finance Director

Buchanan 020 7466 5000

Richard Oldworth

Gabriella Clinkard

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