UPDATE 1-Laird year profits up, eyes growth in Asia

(Adds CEO/analyst comments, background, share price, detail)

By Golnar Motevalli

LONDON, March 12 (Reuters) - British electronics firm Laird Group LARD.L beat forecasts with a 5 percent rise in 2007 profits, boosted by growth in emerging markets and lifting its shares 5 percent on Wednesday.

Laird said profit before tax, goodwill and one-off items was 76.8 million pounds ($154.6 million), above an analysts' forecast range of 60.6 million to 75 million pounds, according to a Reuters Estimates poll.

"We've had a strong end to 2007 and 2008 has started well ... we have good emerging markets exposure, and our products should trend above 2007," Chief Executive Peter Hill told Reuters.

"We're starting (work) with Samsung and LG in Korea... we've established our first plant in India and we have a very good presence in those emerging markets," Hill added.

By 0900 GMT shares in the firm were up 5 percent at 498 pence, valuing the business at around 725 million pounds.

Laird, which makes magnetic shielding, heat management and antennae equipment for products such as cars and laptop computers, sold its Security Systems division in April last year to focus on high-growth electronics and technology markets.

The move allowed the company to return about 100 million pounds to shareholders last June. In addition to this special dividend, the company will pay a total dividend of 11.5p per share, up 12 percent on last year.