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LONDON, Nov 21 (Reuters) - Johnson Matthey, theworld's largest maker of catalysts to control car emissions,posted a 13 percent rise in first-half profit, helped byincreased global production of cars and trucks and demand forits speciality catalysts.
The British specialty chemicals firm - which also refinesand recycles platinum group metals - said underlying profitbefore tax totaled 212.9 million pounds ($344.3 million) for thesix months to the end of September, up from a restated 187.9million for the year-ago period.
The group said the end of long-standing arrangements withAnglo American Platinum would impact profitability in the fourthquarter, but it would also benefit from tighter rules forEuropean trucks.
"We therefore expect that if the impact of the loss of theAnglo Platinum contracts is excluded, Johnson Matthey'sperformance in the second half will be in line with that of thefirst six months," Neil Carson, chief executive, said in thestatement.
