lookers plc said wednesday that firsthalf pretax profit slipped slightly on increased costs and net operating expenses though revenue rose and it reinstated interim dividends the londonlisted motorandaftersales service group said it made a pretax profit of 499 million pounds 591 million down from gbp504 million for the same period a year earlier revenue rose to gbp230 billion from gbp215 billion driven by increases in used vehicles and aftersales lookers said the company outperformed the uk new retail car market by 17 it said performance in july and august has met the companys expectations margins remain in line with the first half and it maintains a stronger order book for the remainder of the year it said