Czech CEZ ups FY '06 guidance for operating profit

PRAGUE, Nov 15 (Reuters) - Central Europe's largest utility group, CEZ <CEZPsp.PR>, raised its outlook for operating profit for the full-year of 2006 on Wednesday, after reporting a 51 percent rise in third quarter net profits.

The Czech-based company said it now expects earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) to reach 39.8 billion crowns ($1.82 billion), compared with the previous guidance of 38 billion crowns.

CEZ also increased its forecast for earnings before interest, tax, amortisation and depreciation (EBITDA) to 63.7 billion crowns from a previous 61 billion. ((Reporting by Jan Korselt; Writing by Marek Petrus; Editing by Alan Crosby; Reuters Messaging: rm://marek.petrus.reuters.com@reuters.net; e-mail: prague.newsroom@reuters.com or marek.petrus@reuters.com; Tel: +420 224 190 477)) ($1=21.89 Czech Crown)

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Keywords: UTILITIES CZECH CEZ OUTLOOK