JAPAN'S BENESSE GROUP NET PROFIT ROSE 21% IN H1.

AsiaPulse News, November, 2004

TOKYO, Nov 11 Asia Pulse - Benesse Corp. (TSE:9783) said Wednesday that its group net profit climbed 21 per cent on the year to 12.8 billion yen (US$119.7 million) in the fiscal first half ended Sept. 30.

The company will increase its interim dividend by 10.5 yen on the year to 25 yen. Despite the falling birthrate in Japan, "our detailed development of products that address students' needs struck a chord with both parents and children," said corporate senior vice president Naoto Sugiyama.

Interim sales climbed 12 per cent to 140.9 billion yen, with education-related operations posting a 13 per cent increase. Benesse's correspondence courses saw a 4.6 per cent increase in enrollments, primarily in the elementary and junior high school age groups, thanks to...