H1 sales 10.8 bln eur, up organic 2.9% (Il Sole 24 Ore Radiocor) - Berlin, 13 Aug - The German chemical group Henkel said that in the first half earnings per preferred share increased to 2.46 euros from 1.35 euros a year earlier driven by the increase in operating profit.

Adjusted earnings per preferred share grew by 30.5% to 2.78 euros from 2.13 euros.

At constant exchange rates, adjusted earnings per preferred share increased 32.9%.

Sales totalled 10.8 billion euros, down a reported 1.0% but up 2.9% organically.

Adjusted EBIT increased 28.4% to 1.610 billion euros and the margin grew 3.40 percentage points to 14.9%.

Free cash flow reached 772 million euros, up from 749 million euros a year earlier.

For the full year, Henkel continues to expect organic sales growth of 2.5-4.5%.

The adjusted EBIT margin is now expected to be 13.5-14.5% against a previous estimate of 13.0-14.0%.

Henkel now expects adjusted earnings per preferred share to rise 20.0-30.0% at constant exchange rates, against 15.0-20.0% previously, at constant exchange rates.

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(RADIOCOR) 13-08-24 08:28:16 (0162) 5 NNNN