IFG earnings to meet forecasts

IFG Group chief executive Mark Bourke said the financial services group’s full-year earnings per share should meet analysts’ estimates of between 18 cents and 20 cents.

Group net debt should fall to a “low to mid teens” million-euro figure by the year-end, compared with €21.6m at the end of June and €44.4m in December 2009, he said.

The dividend has been increased by 6% to 1.35 cent.

Goodbody analyst Ken Darmody said that all aspects of the James Hay acquisition are on track or ahead of expectations.