Textile services provider Berendsen posts higher profit

Feb 28 (Reuters) - Berendsen Plc, which rents andlaunders textile products, said full-year pretax profit rose 23percent due largely to higher operating margins at its coreWorkwear unit.

The company, which counts Coca-Cola Europe, Tesco and Airbus among its customers, said pretax profit roseto 112.4 million pounds ($187.4 million) for the year ended Dec.31 from 91.7 million pounds a year earlier.

Revenue rose 7 percent to 1.05 billion pounds.

Analysts on average were expecting pretax profit of 133.27million pounds on revenue of 1.05 billion pounds, according toThomson Reuters I/B/E/S.

Results for the year earlier were restated following theadoption of new accounting standards, Berendsen said.