QinetiQ says year profit up 20 pct

LONDON (Reuters) - Defence technology company QinetiQ Group Plc (QQ.L) said on Wednesday full-year profit rose 20 percent and it had started the new financial year with confidence.

QinetiQ, once part of the Ministry of Defence, said underlying operating profit rose to 127 million pounds in the year ended March 31 from 106 million the previous year. Revenue rose 19 percent to 1.37 billion pounds, with organic growth of 8.6 percent.

(Reporting by Erica Billingham; editing by Rory Channing)