UK's De La Rue raises half-year operating profit outlook

(Reuters) - British banknote printer De La Rue on Friday forecast half-year adjusted operating profit to be marginally ahead of its previous expectations, encouraged by a recovery in currency demand and strength in its authentication business.

The London-listed company had earlier said it expected adjusted operating profit to "broadly break even" for the first half of the year ended Sept. 30.

De La Rue, which has struggled in recent years due to subdued currency demand and a number of operational hurdles, reiterated its full-year adjusted operating profit forecast to be in the low 20 million pounds ($24.34 million) range.

The company added that it expected net debt for both half year and full year to also marginally decline. It had earlier said that net debt would rise to around 100 million pounds for both half and full year.

($1 = 0.8216 pounds)

(Reporting by Eva Mathews in Bengaluru; Editing by Rashmi Aich)