Ports of Auckland holds first-half dividend unchanged as profit falls 7.5%

Ports of Auckland holds first-half dividend unchanged as profit falls 7.5%
Jonathan Underhill
By Jonathan Underhill Feb. 22 (BusinessDesk) - Ports of Auckland will pay its owner, Auckland Council, an unchanged first-half dividend even as profit fell and debt rose. Net profit fell to $29.3 million in the six months ended Dec. 31 from $31.6 million a year earlier, the port company said in a statement. Sales rose 4 percent to $110.5 million while expenses rose 3.2 percent to $73.6 million. The company's release showed container volumes rose 4 percent to 493,665 in the first half. Multi-cargo volume rose 8.8 percent to 3.26 million...