Protective clothing and condom maker Ansell's profit has grown by 34 per cent but the company has sounded a warning about looming economic storm clouds.
Ansell's profit of $US87.7 million ($A113 million) in the six months to December 31 was its "best ever result" according to chief executive Magnus Nicolin.
The company has maintained its full year guidance of earnings per share growth of between seven and 15 per cent, a forecast Mr Nicolin later defended.
"Some of you might say why are you doing that after such a strong first half ... the world has become even more uncertain in the last three to four months," he said.
Currency movements and economic problems were hurting demand in key markets for Ansell including continental Europe, Russia and Brazil, offsetting a stronger US economy.
Analysts at Citibank have warned the company faces significant Euro currency-related risks to earnings, along with increasing raw material costs, offsetting the benefits of a weaker Australian dollar.
Investors liked the half year result, sending Ansell's shares up $1.08, or 4.7 per cent, to $24.14 by 1440 AEDT.
The company's recent acquisition of glove and footwear makers BarrierSafe greatly boosted revenue, with sales jumping more than 20 per cent to $US847 million ($A1.09 billion).
Ansell is looking at more acquisitions, Mr Nicolin said, with the cashflow benefits and synergies of BarrierSafe being realised quicker than expected.
Earnings in the company's sexual wellness division improved five per cent to $12.7 million, and the business was "getting back to its growth mojo" after underperforming in 2013/14, Mr Nicolin said.
A key product is its "natural feeling" non-latex SKYN condoms, which have become the subject of a legal stoush after Durex brought out its own version and Ansell accused it of a patent breach.
ACQUISITION AND SALES LIFT BOOST ANSELL PROFIT
* Half year net profit of $87.7m, up 34 pct from $65.6m in 2013/14
* Revenue of $847.3m, up 20 pct from $703.6m
* Interim dividend up three cents to 20 US cents per share
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