HUL Q2 net profit rises 8 percent, matches estimates

MUMBAI (Reuters) - Hindustan Unilever Ltd, the Indian unit of consumer goods giant Unilever Plc , said second-quarter net profit grew 8 percent, in line with estimates as sales remained robust despite the country's slower economic growth.

Standalone net profit rose to 9.88 billion rupees ($161 million) for the three months to Sept. 30 from 9.14 billion rupees a year earlier, Hindustan Unilever said in a statement. The company is two-thirds owned by its Anglo-Dutch parent, and with a market value of close to $27 billion plays a key role in Unilever's Asia operations.

Analysts on average had expected a net profit of 9.88 billion rupees, according to data compiled by Thomson Reuters.

 

($1 = 61.2650 rupees)

(Reporting by Devidutta Tripathy; Editing by Kenneth Maxwell)