Sales and profits continued to stiffen at rigid plastic packaging specialist RPC Group in the first quarter, in line with its previous guidance.

It said both revenues and adjusted operating profit before exceptional items were up and its recently bolted-on acquisitions were making a good contribution to overall performance.

Activity levels were slightly above the prior year on a like-for-like basis and Chief Executive Pim Vervaat described the overall group performance as "robust", with "satisfactory" cash flow.

"The acquired businesses are integrating well with performances in line with expectations and we continue to invest for organic growth in the US to further enhance the group's position outside Europe."

RPC said in a statement that the increasingly strong pound against both the euro and US dollar had an adverse effect on adjusted operating profit in the period as a significant part of revenues are in those currencies.

The ACE businesses in China acquired in June did well during the period, with the last month to be consolidated into RPC's accounts, with its integration progressing well

With the final phase of the "Fitter for the Future" business optimisation project continuing to progress well, the company emphasised Vervaat's Vision 2020 focused growth strategy "continues to gain momentum".

ACE is expected to provide a further platform for profitable growth outside Europe, it said.

Shares in RPC were up 0.72% to 588.2p at 13:20 on Wednesday.

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