Bright Dairy and Food Co., in which France's Groupe Danone owns a 11.55 percent stake via unit Danone Asia Pte., said yesterday its first-half net profit fell 40.2 percent due to increased marketing costs for its yogurt products.

Net profit for the six months ended June 30 was 90.5 million yuan (US$11.31 million), down from 151.3 million yuan in the first half of 2005, according to the company's statement on the Shanghai Stock Exchange¡¯s Web site.

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