International healthcare services provider UDG Healthcare said it has made a strong start to the financial year.
It said that trading for the quarter to the end of December was "well ahead" of the previous year.
In a trading statement for its fiscal first quarter, the company said it expects its adjusted earnings per share for the year to the end of September to be between 6-8% ahead of the previous year.
It also repeated its dividend guidance for the full year, adding that it expects to continue its "long history of dividend growth".
"The group expects to deliver a good underlying cashflow performance for the year. Modest debt levels and the net proceeds from the United Drug disposal leave the group in a strong position to support its ongoing growth and expansion, both organically and through acquisition," the company added.
UDG Healthcare also said that its chief executive Liam FitzGerald will step down from his position at the company's AGM today as the handover to Brendan McAtamney has been brought forward.
Mr FitzGerald will continue as a non-executive director as planned until September of this year and will continue to support the transition of CEO responsibilities on a consulting basis, the company said.
