E.ON slightly beats forecasts as industrial business drives first-half profit

FRANKFURT, Aug 12 (Reuters) - E.ON, Europe's largest energy grid operator, on Wednesday posted first-half core profit that came in slightly ahead of estimates, boosted by the group's division that caters to big industrial and municipal clients.

Adjusted core profit for the January to June period rose 1% to €5.40 billion ($6.23 billion), surpassing the €5.39 billion Vara consensus. Adjusted net profit was up 5% at €1.92 billion, also slightly above the €1.91 billion poll.

($1 = 0.8671 euros)

(Reporting by Christoph Steitz, editing by Kirsti Knolle)