GKN profit up 34 percent on commercial aero, auto unit strength

LONDON (Reuters) – Car and plane parts maker GKN posted a 34 percent rise in third quarter profit, boosted by a strong performance from its commercial aerospace and automotive units.

The British firm on Tuesday reported a pre-tax profit of 131 million pounds in the three months to the end of September on sales 16 percent higher at 1.86 billion pounds.

GKN, a major supplier to planemakers Airbus and Boeing , said its trading margin rose to 8.2 percent during the period, up from 7 percent in the same period a year ago.

(Reporting by Rhys Jones; editing by Brenda Goh)

GKN profit up 34 percent on commercial aero, auto unit strength