LONDON (ShareCast) - Supplying broadcasts systems to the Beijing Olympics helped Vitec see strong underlying profits growth in the first half of 2008.

Underlying profits jumped by 21% to £17.6m on sales up by 26% to £159m.Pre-tax profits fell by 7% to £12.6m in the half-year to June due to write-offs of intangibles and a £1.3m write-off on its take in Media Numerics.

The strongest organic growth came from the Broadcast Systems division, Vitec said, with Camera Dynamics and Communications boosted by purchases for the Beijing Olympics, though robotics and intercoms products generally are in demand.

"The second half has started well: order intake remains good and our order book is in line with expectations," chief executive Gareth Rhys-Williams added.

The dividend is up by 7% to 7.4p.

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