Zentiva posts H1 profit drop, expects "better" H2

...network and one-off costs in its Romanian business .

The company, 25 percent owned by France's Sanofi-Aventis , said net profit after minority interests fell to 831.3 million crowns ($40.97 million), a tad above the firm's own forecast of around 800 million made 10 days ago.

Chief Executive Jiri Michal said the company expected its second-half sales results to be "better" than in the first half when they fell 5.5 percent year-on-year to 6.797 billion crowns, in line with the company's guidance.

Zentiva shares have shed 14 percent since the company's forecast of much weaker-than-expected first-half results on July 27.

[PRAGUE/Reuters/Finance.cz]