Celsis first-half pretax profit jumps 17.8%

UK-based Celsis International says that its first-half 2008 pretax profit jumped 17.8% year-on-year to $5.0 million, thanks to the performance of its rapid detection and in vitro technology businesses.

The firm, which provides services and products to the life science industry, said that group revenue increased 3.5% to $27.2 million during the period, as earnings before interest taxes depreciation and amortization jumped 11.5% to $6.5 million, while profit before tax adjusted for amortization of intangible assets increased 16.3% to $5.3 million. Earnings per share rose 14.1% to $0.15.

Despite its solid results, on the morning of the announcement, November 12, shares fell 7.4% to 143.5 pence on the London Stock Exchange.