Reckitt Benckiser Group (LON:RB.) reported a 1 percent rise in revenue for the first half to £4.67 billion, while on a like-for-like basis, the performance was 4 percent higher than in the previous first half.
The producer of household, consumer healthcare and personal products made an adjusted net profit of £818 million in the six months to June 30 2012, up 2 percent from a year earlier, or 4 percent at constant exchange rates.
"While the consumer and competitive environment in Europe and North America remains challenging, we are doing the right things for the long term," said chief executive Rakesh Kapoor.
The company sticks to its target for the full year to grow revenue approximately 200 basis points above the expected market growth rate of 1-2 percent.
Earlier this year, Reckitt announced plans to merge its North American and European operations and focus investment and resources in emerging markets.
It wants to generate half of its sales in developing economies, excluding food and pharmaceuticals, by 2016, up from approximately 40 percent at present.
Reckitt said its results were in line, with expectations with higher input costs and increased investment being partially offset by cost savings programmes.
“The new organisation structure is fully in place and we are seeing early benefits,” it said.
At 10.40 am, shares were trading at 3,516 pence, down 0.73 percent from yesterday’s close but off earlier lows.