Sydney - Wednesday - Feb 14: (RWE Australian Business News) -...

Sydney - Wednesday - Feb 14: (RWE Australian Business News) -
Computershare Ltd (ASX code: CPU) lifted net profit 141.1 per cent to
119.34 million US dollars in the six months ended December 31 from
$US49.5 million for the first half of last year.
Revenue rose 17.8 per cent to $690.98 million from $586.71
million.
Basic earnings per share were 19.91 US cents, up from US8.31c.
Interim dividend is 8 Australian cents, unfranked, payable on
March 23 to shareholders registered March 5.
Directors and management have determined that the exclusion of
certain items permits more appropriate and meaningful analysis of the
company's underlying performance on a comparative basis.
Internally the organisation focuses on the adjusted financial
outcomes known as management adjusted results.
Net profit on a management adjusted basis was $US107.0 million,
up 104 per cent from $52.5 million.
Management earnings per share rose from US8.82c to US17.86c.
In light of the "excellent" first-half result and the
continuation of favourable equity and interest rate market conditions,
the company expects to report annual earnings numbers (reflected in
management EPS) about 50 per cent higher than last year.

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Directors said Computershare had experienced another robust half
of revenue growth and this, coupled with continual focus on controllable
costs, was instrumental in delivering "outstanding" earnings and
cash-flow growth.
"Pleasingly, the outcomes were driven by improved performance in
many businesses," they said.
"The result was a record half on the back of sustained merger
and acquisition activity, growing corporate action revenues, and
comparatively more favourable interest rate levels.
"Whilst positive contributions were widespread, the most
significant improvements over 1H06 came from major businesses in the UK,
Australia, Canada and the US," the directors said.
"The UK continued the turnaround commenced in 2H06.
"The Australian operations recovered from a softer FY06 on the
back of increased corporate action activity.
"Canada also benefited from a strong corporate actions
environment.
"Continued accelerated delivery of synergies from the Equiserve
acquisition, along with increased corporate action activity and further
strong fund services revenues, drove an excellent US result.
"Along with significant IPO activity in Hong Kong and healthy
merger and acquisition conditions globally, these factors resulted in
EPS growth of 102 per cent on the same period last year."
Shares in Computershare rose 43c to $9.80 yesterday.