PARIS -(Dow Jones)- French electrical equipment maker Schneider Electric SA (SU.FR) on Wednesday posted a 38% rise in third-quarter sales, helped by its acquisition of a power distribution unit, and raised its full-year profitability guidance.

Schneider, a leading provider of energy management technology, said sales for the three months to Sept. 30 rose to EUR5.45 billion from EUR3.95 billion a year earlier.

Schneider said it is now targetting a margin for full-year earnings before interest, taxes and amortization, or Ebita, of 15.5% to 16%, before restructuring costs and the impact of integrating the power distribution business it bought from Areva SA (CEI.FR). It previously had a target of 15.5%.

-Adam Mitchell, Dow Jones Newswires, +33 1 40171756; adam.mitchell@dowjones.com

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