May 6(Reuters) - Italian hearing aid company Amplifon AMPF.MI on Tuesday reported a 3.4% rise in first-quarter adjusted core profit and said it would launch a share buyback program for up to 150 million euros ($169.92 million) in the coming weeks.
Adjusted core profit rose to 140.4 million euros, while its core profit margin widened 20 basis points to 23.9%, the highest ever reported in a first quarter, which the company attributed to higher profit growth in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, the company said.
($1 = 0.8828 euros)
(Reporting by Alberto Chiumento; Editing by Kirsten Donovan)
((Alberto.chiumento@thomsonreuters.com))