United Drug achieves double-digit growth in first half

United Drug has published its financial results for the first half of its 2012/13 fiscal year, a period marked by strong growth across the group.

During the six months ending on March 31st 2013, the company generated a revenue total of 1.02 billion euros (859.96 million pounds), which was up by 14 percent year on year, while adjusted operating profit rose by 13 percent to 44.6 million euros.

All five acquisitions completed by United Drug last year have now been successfully integrated, while the global expansion of the business is continuing well, with the US becoming its largest profit contributor during the half-year period.

The firm also reported strong performances from its healthcare supply chain and sales, marketing and medical divisions, and is moving ahead with plans to rebrand itself as UDG Healthcare in September 2013.

United Drug's chief executive officer Liam FitzGerald said: "We continue to work hard to provide a range and quality of professional outsourcing solutions that enable our international healthcare clients to operate more effectively."

The firm operates in five major international markets and presently employs more than 7,000 people around the world.