Health care and animal care products company Ebos Group posted a 12% increase in first-half profit, due to growth in both divisions and lower finance costs.

The company said it expects similar growth in the second half, which would make full-year earnings more than US$92 million.

The company will pay a first-half dividend of 22 cents per share, up 7.3% from a year earlier. Ebos shares rose 4.17% to $10 after the first-half results were released, which showed sales and earnings beat some estimates.

The company's animal care unit saw an 8% rise in revenue to $191 million and a 7.5% gain in earnings before interest and tax to $15 million.