* Beats analysts' forecasts with 13.5 pct rise in H1 profit
* Says Brexit vote has not hurt UK trade
* Cautious on France outlook
* Shares up 1 pct (Adds CEO and CFO comment, share price)
By James Davey
LONDON, Sept 20 (Reuters) - Kingfisher, Europe'slargest home improvement retailer, beat forecasts for first-halfprofit thanks to strong demand in Britain and Poland and saidits five-year plan to transform the business had got off to agood start.
The company, which runs the B&Q and Screwfix chains inBritain and Castorama and Brico Depot in France and othercountries, also said that the UK's decision to leave theEuropean Union had not hurt demand, though it remains cautiouson the outlook for French operations.
Shares in Kingfisher, already up 14 percent so far thisyear, rose by as much as 2.7 percent after Tuesday's update. At0905 GMT the shares stood at 380 pence, up nearly 1 percent.
Chief Executive Veronique Laury had outlined thetransformation plan in January, looking to boost Kingfisher'sprofit by 500 million pounds ($650 million) a year from 2021.
The plan involves unifying the product offering across thegroup to improve ecommerce capabilities and efficiency, thoughimplementation costs of 800 million pounds over the five yearsraised a few eyebrows among investors.
"We've made good progress so far and are on track", Laurytold reporters, noting that the first unified ranges had beenintroduced in categories such as light bulbs, batteries andkitchen sinks. "Sales are encouraging so far."
The company also intends to return 600 million pounds toshareholders over the next three years through share buybacks.It has so far returned 160 million pounds.
Kingfisher made underlying pretax profit of 436 millionpounds in the six months to July 31, up 13.5 percent and aheadof a consensus analysts' forecast of 430 million pounds.
Total sales rose 2.7 percent to 5.75 billion pounds on aconstant currency basis.
"Performance has been driven by Poland and the UK,especially Screwfix, and a stable profit performance in France,"Laury said.
Kingfisher also benefited from 17 million pounds offavourable currency movements on the translation of non-sterlingprofits.
"In the UK, the EU referendum has created uncertainty forthe economic outlook, even though there has been no clearevidence of an impact on demand so far," Laury said.
"In France, we remain cautious on the short-term outlook,"she added, citing weak market conditions in the country.
Second-quarter trading in France was held back by lowconsumer confidence, industrial action and wet weather.
"For quite some time we have referred to France as beingquite subdued and we're seeing that across the sector," ChiefFinancial Officer Karen Witts said.
Before Tuesday's update analysts' average forecast forfull-year underlying pretax profit was 773 million pounds, upfrom 686 million pounds in 2015/16.($1 = 0.7692 pounds)
(Editing by Kate Holton and David Goodman)
Kingfisher (KGF)
