WPP H1 Profit Grows - Quick Facts

(RTTNews) - Advertising firm WPP Plc's (WPPGY, WPP.L) first-half reported pre-tax profit rose by 19.4% to 427.1 million pounds from 358 million pounds, or up 16.4% in constant currency, principally reflecting lower revaluation of financial instruments than in 2012. On a headline basis, pre-tax profit amounted to 524 million pounds, up 12.2% from last year's 467 million pounds, and up 9.7% in constant currencies.

Excluding the significant tax credit of 52 million pounds in relation to the amortisation of acquired intangibles and other goodwill items in the 2012 first half, profits attributable to share owners climbed 23.3%, to 278 million pounds from 226 million pounds. In the first half of 2013, the tax credit totaled 2 million pounds. Profits attributable to share owners advanced 1.1% to 281 million pounds from 278 million pounds, again reflecting the exceptional tax credit in 2012.

Headline earnings per share went up 10.1% to 28.4 pence, from 25.8 pence a year before. In constant currencies, earnings per share on the same basis rose by 6.7%. Reported earnings per share were down 0.5% to 21.5 pence and down 4.7% in constant currencies, both reflecting the impact of the exceptional tax credit in 2012.

Six-month reportable revenues were up 7.1% year-on-year to 5.33 billion pounds, from 4.97 billion pounds, with like-for-like revenue growth of 2.4%.