Cost of dying boosts Dignity

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It reported a 17% jump in first-half, pre-tax profits today to £21.1 million, excluding the sale of fixed assets worth £10 million.
Revenue for the first six months of the year rose 12% to £90.6 million, boosted by the acquisition of nine funeral homes and a crematorium.

Dignity said in a statement that it remains upbeat about trading during the rest of 2008.

Although death rates in the UK are falling, business is booming at Dignity as people splash out on more expensive funerals for relatives.

The group, which owns 548 funeral homes and 23 crematoria in Britain, said it is looking for opportunities to buy up smaller rivals in what remains a fragmented sector.

It will pay an interim dividend of 3.66p, up from 3.33p last year.

Dignity's shares climbed 8p to 739p.