Mitie posts fall in first-half operating profit

LONDON, Nov 23 (Reuters) - British outsourcer Mitie reported a fall in operating profit in the first half of itsfiscal year, as local government cuts weighed on demand for itshealthcare division.

Mitie, which runs services from maintenance and cleaning tobaggage screening at London's Heathrow airport, said operatingprofit fell 9.5 percent to 58.1 million pounds ($88 million)from64.2 million a year earlier.

The company said on Monday it was confident it would delivera good full-year performance, after securing 97 percent ofbudgeted revenue and with a order book of 8.5 billion pounds.

($1 = 0.6591 pounds) (Reporting by Li-mei Hoang, Editing by Paul Sandle)

Mitie