Safety, health and sensor technology group Halma plc announced record results for the full year ending April 3, with profits up 9 percent to $125 million and revenue rising by 1 percent to $665 million. As part of its ongoing expansion plan, the company said it has set aside $150 million for acquisitions, with a particular focus on photonics-related businesses. The group, which includes photonics companies Ocean Optics, Ocean Thin Films, Labsphere, and Fiberguide, posted strong enough financials to raise shareholder dividends by 7 percent, the 31st consecutive year of increases, Halma said. The group's 11 US subsidiaries generate about 30 percent of its revenue. Halma subsidiaries operate in three main market sectors: Health and Analysis (which includes its photonics companies), Infrastructure Sensors, and Industrial Safety. The company said it is actively seeking successful and profitable companies that are closely allied to any of its current market sectors, but photonics companies in particular. The most recent photonics company Halma acquired was SphereOptics, a US manufacturer of light measurement equipment, which it purchased in January 2010 and integrated with Labsphere, one of its existing photonics businesses (See Halma Acquires SphereOptics). “We are proud of the success our companies have attained and really excited about the continuing opportunities within the photonics industries,” said Adam Meyers, divisional chief executive of Halma’s Health Optics & Photonics Div. For more information, visit: www.halma.com