Dublin-based UDG Healthcare has reported an operating profit of €48.4m for the first half of its trading year, up 15% on the same time last year.
The London listed company said its revenue for the six months to the end of March rose by 6% to €472.4m, while pre-tax profits rose by 18% to €41.2m.
It also reiterated its full year market guidance of 6-8% earnings per share growth on a constant currency basis.
The company's board has declared an interim dividend of 3.05 cent per share, up 5% on the 2015 interim dividend.
The company said that the six month period had been "transformational" for the business.
It said that after selling its legacy Irish distribution business in April for €407.5m, it now has significant firepower to make acquisitions and grow its higher margin divisions.
UDG Healthcare's chief executive Brendan McAtamney said that its activities and strategy continue to be supported by the strong growth outlook for the outsourced healthcare services market.
"Underpinned by our strong balance sheet and diversified client base, UDG Healthcare remains well positioned to continue to execute our international expansion strategy and meet the growing demand for our specialist services from our global healthcare clients," he added.
The company said its packaging division Sharp saw operating profits rise by 38% to €16.2m in the six month period, driven by continued strong momentum in the US business. Its total revenues rose by 20% to €132.4m from €110.4m the same time last year.
Operating profits at its Ashfield division - which provides sales , nursing services and healthcare communications - rose by 7% to €28m while total net revenues increased by 10% to €235.9m from €214.8m.
But revenues at its Supply Chain Services division, which includes Aquilant the its joint venture with Medicare, fell by 7% to €48.8m, while operating profits rose by 2% to €4.2m.
