August 19 - Clarkson PLC (Clarksons) has posted a strong performance for the six months ended June 30, 2014, despite continued challenging market conditions.

Clarksons' revenue for the first half of 2014 increased by 25 percent year-on-year to GBP111.7 million (USD186.6 million), while underlying profit (before acquisition and exceptional costs) grew 46 percent to GBP15.8 million (USD26.3 million).

The company also posted a 49 percent increase in underlying earnings per share (before acquisition and exceptional costs), and a 62 percent rise in basic earnings per share (after acquisition and exceptional costs).

"Clarksons continues to make positive strides despite the challenges that remain in shipping markets and the weakness in the US dollar," said Andi Case, chief executive of the company.

Case added that Clarksons has seen some tentative signs of recovery in certain market areas, and hopes that the company's market knowledge and the breadth of its service offering will put it at the forefront of that recovery.

www.clarksons.com