Soul Pattinson gets half year profit boost

Investment group Washington H Soul Pattinson's half year profit is up 42 pct helped by earnings increases some of its major divisions.

Investment group Washington H Soul Pattinson's profit has lifted nearly 42 per cent to $95.4 million (AAP)

Investment group Washington H Soul Pattinson's profit has lifted nearly 42 per cent to $95.4 million, helped by earnings increases from TPG Telecom, Australian Pharmaceuticals Industries and building products group Brickworks.

However, underlying profit fell 5.2 per cent to $83.6 million, mainly due to the impact of lower coal, oil and copper prices on the results of mining firm New Hope, CopperChem and Exco Resources.

The company increased its interim dividend by one cent to 21 cents, fully franked.