LEASING and fleet management specialist BCH Group has announced a 30% increase in pre-tax profits to £1.93 million (1997: £1.49 million) for the first six months of the year. This was achieved on a 27% increase in turnover to £31.9 million (£25.2 million), as BCH Vehicle Management's fleet size grew to 15,234 vehicles, 12,263 of them on contract hire.

The company's new retail site BCH Direct, opened in March, helped BCH to mitigate the residual value pressures which have affected other publicly quoted leasing companies.

Richard Pepper, BCH chief executive, announced the company's intention to increase outlets for BCH's personal purchase product AutoChoice, and associated warranty and payment protection schemes, primarily through dealers.