LONDON (Thomson Financial) - Lok'n Store Group Plc., a UK self-storage operator, posted pretax profits of 216,021 for the six months to end-January, in its first interim results presented under IFRS, against 447,061 pounds for the equivalent period last year, and said it made good progress in strengthening the operating performance of the business.

Turnover was 5.52 million pounds, up 13 percent on a like-for-like basis, excluding two stores sold, it said, while group EBITDA of 1.42 million pounds was up 18.2 percent on the same basis.

The group has proposed its first interim dividend of 0.33 pence a share.

The company said it has been unaffected by the turbulence in property and financial markets in the period, and its business model remains robust.

"Current trading continues to be resilient reflecting the strong fundamentals and defensive qualities of the self-storage business model," it said.

paul.sandle@thomsonreuters.com ps

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