Debenhams sees H1 profit ahead of prior year

The firm had been dogged by concerns about its borrowing since returning to the stock market at 195 pence a share in 2006 after two-and-a-half lucrative years in private equity hands.

The stock closed on Monday at 71 pence, valuing the business at 914 million pounds.

(Reporting by James Davey, editing by Mark Potter)