Hong Kong-based diversified property group Wheelock and Co. Ltd. said its first-half profit attributable to equity shareholders was HK$4.20 per share, an increase of 37.3% from HK$3.06 per share in the year-earlier period.

Profit attributable to shareholders totaled HK$8.60 billion, a gain of 37.8% year over year from HK$6.24 billion.

Operating profit totaled HK$9.65 billion, compared with HK$9.70 billion in the year-earlier period.

Factoring in contributions from Wheelock & Co., Wharf (Holdings) Ltd., Wharf Real Estate Investment Co. Ltd. and Wheelock Properties (Singapore) Ltd., group core profit attributable to shareholders came to HK$5.16 billion, down from roughly HK$5.52 billion a year earlier.

Wheelock will pay an interim dividend of 50 cents per share Sept. 17. The company paid an interim dividend of 95 cents per share in April.