United’s profits ahead of last year’s

UNITED Drug healthcare and pharmaceutical wholesaler said its 2009 profits will be ahead of last year on a constant currency basis.

Exceptional charges of €14m and a sterling depreciation of 15% in the 12 months will affect the overall outcome for the year, the group said in its pre-close trading statement.

Profits for the year to September 30, 2009, before exceptional costs, “are expected to be ahead of last year” and are “in line with expectations”, it said.