richelieu hardware ltd on thursday reported a rise in profit and sales in the first quarter and said it plans to focus on integrating its recent acquisitions in the coming quarters the montrealbased specialty hardware distribution and manufacturing company said pershare earnings were 53 canadian cents 42 us cents in the period ended feb 28 compared with c037 a year earlier earnings before interest taxes depreciation and amortization was c537 million a rise of 41 over the prioryear period sales rose 29 to c3845 million from c2976 million just shy of consensus expectations of c3879 million based off the forecasts of three analysts polled factset the company noted that of the 29 growth 16 was from internal growth while 13 came from acquisitions in the coming periods we will remain focused on creating synergies by integrating our recent acquisitions as well as on our innovation and acquisition strategies president and chief executive richard lord said