Remy Cointreau profits rise on solid U.S. and China performance

* H1 current operating profit 123.9 mln euros, up 7 pct l-f-l

* Cognac H1 operating profit 101.9 mln euros, up 9.1 pct l-f-l

* Keeps goal for growth in FY 2016/17 current operating profit (Adds details from statement)

By Dominique Vidalon

PARIS, Nov 24 (Reuters) - French spirits group Remy Cointreau reported a seven percent rise in first-half profits, driven by recovering demand for its cognac in China and a growing take-up for its premium brands in the United States, its top market.

The maker of Remy Martin cognac and Cointreau liquor, which is on a drive to sell higher-priced spirits to boost profitability, kept its forecast for growth in current operating profit in the 2016/17 full year on a like-for-like basis.

Current operating profit for the six months to Sept. 30 reached 123.9 million euros ($130.63 million), a 7 percent rise on a like-for-like basis.

In October, Remy Cointreau (Swiss: RCO.SW - news) had said it was comfortable with the consensus of analysts' estimates for full-year like-for-like operating profit growth of 8 percent.

Similar to other spirits makers, including larger rivals Diageo (LSE: DGE.L - news) and Pernod Ricard (TLO: RI-U.TI - news) , Remy Cointreau has been impacted by falling sales of cognac and other luxury goods in China following a government crackdown on luxury gift-giving and personal spending by Chinese civil servants.

The Remy Martin cognac division, which accounts for 80 percent of group profit, saw operating profit rise 9.1 percent on a like-for-like basis to 101.9 million euros.

Its cognac business also had a strong performance in the United States, driven by the success of the 1738 Accord Royal cognac as well as renewed growth in greater China.

The Liqueurs & Spirits division saw its profit rise 8.6 percent, again helped by a solid performance in the United States and stronger demand in France. The Metaxa liqueur also confirmed its returned to growth in the first-half as demand improved in Russia and sales stabilised in Greece.

The Chinese government's earlier crackdown on gift-giving and personal spending had led to significant changes across the group.

The company had expanded its footprint away from China and towards the United States, making 38 percent of group sales in the United States compared to around 20 percent for China.

Remy Cointreau has also stepped up spending on advertising and marketing, particularly in the United States to boost demand for its Remy Martin and 1738 Accor Royal cognacs and for its Louis XII cognac, which sells for $3,000 per bottle.

Remy Cointreau shares are up by around 13 percent so far in 2016. (Reporting by Dominique Vidalon; Editing by Sudip Kar-Gupta)