LAURENT-PERRIER SA, which has made champagne since 1812, said first-half profit rose 32 percent on increased demand for higher-priced vintages.

Net income climbed to 17.2 million euros (US$25.7 million) in the six months through September, from 13.1 million euros a year earlier, the Tours-sur-Marne, France-based company said yesterday in French daily La Tribune. That beat the 15.1-million-euro estimate from Natixis Securities analyst Josephine Chevalier, said Bloomberg News.

Laurent-Perrier sold more luxury brands such as Cuvee Rose Brut to increase profitability as industry production growth slows. The company boosted sales in the United States and aims to get more revenue from high-end vintages such as Grand Siecle, priced at US$99.99 a bottle.

"The quality and regularity of our results validates our strategic choices," Chief Executive Officer Yves Dumont said. The company will continue to invest in the Laurent-Perrier brand, he said.

Full-year sales will increase six percent to eight percent, excluding currency movements, the company said in the statement. First-half revenue rose 15 percent to 115.4 million euros, the company said on November 9, strengthening from a 14-percent increase in the fiscal year through March.

Laurent-Perrier shares fell 2.7 euros, or 2.5 percent, to 104 euros in Paris on Thursday. They have climbed 43 percent in 2007 after more than doubling in the prior two years.