UPDATE 3-Interserve FY profit up, sees cutting interest charge

* Sees public sector clients spending less -- CEO

* Looking at making 'bolt-on' acquisitions

* Says won contracts worth 200 mln stg in UK, Middle East

* FY pretax profit 89.2 mln stg vs 79.9 mln stg

* Shares up 8 pct (Adds CEO comments; updates share movement)

By Tresa Sherin Morera

BANGALORE, March 10 (Reuters) - British maintenance firm Interserve (IRV.L) posted a rise in full-year profit, aided by growth at its project and equipment services businesses, and said it expected to "dramatically" cut interest charges related to its pension scheme in 2010.

The company, which closed majority of its pension scheme in 2009, said its headline pretax profit had been hit by higher interest charges.

"That (interest charge) particularly went from nothing in 2008 to about 8 million pounds in 2009... that will pretty much reverse in 2010," Chief Executive Adrian Ringrose told Reuters.

Shares of Interserve, which cleans Britain's crown courts and maintains government buildings, were up 8 percent at 224.2 pence at 1339 GMT on the London Stock Exchange.

However, Interserve said it expected 2010 to be a tough year, particularly in the first half.

"We do expect some of our public sector clients to probably spend a little less in the short term," Ringrose said.

Separately, the company said it won contracts worth more than 200 million pounds ($297.9 million) in the UK and through its Middle East associates.

PRETAX PROFIT UP

For the year ended Dec. 31, the company said its pretax profit rose to 89.2 million pounds ($133.5 million) from 79.9 million pounds a year ago. Revenue grew 5.9 percent to 1.9 billion pounds.

The group recorded a net exceptional gain before tax of 16.3 million pounds in 2009. The company said it paid a fine of 11.6 million pounds in 2009 following an investigation by the Office of Fair Trading into the rigging of bids by construction firms.

Analysts on average were expecting a full-year pretax profit of 76.7 million pounds on revenue of 1.87 billion pounds, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.

Operating profit at the project services unit rose 13 percent to 40.7 million pounds, while that at its equipment services business grew 21 percent to 35.9 million pounds.

Interserve declared a final dividend of 12 pence, taking the total dividend for the year to 17.5 pence, up 2.9 percent from last year.

Interserve said it would look at making "niche" and "bolt-on" acquisitions.

The company, whose international operations generate more than half its profit, also said its construction unit would be looking to pursue joint venture opportunities in North Africa and India.

"India may be a little further off but certainly a market that we've been studying for a little while," CEO Ringrose said. ($1=.6714 Pound) (Editing by Aradhana Aravindan)