MADRID, July 22 (Reuters) - Spanish utility Iberdrola IBE.MC said on Wednesday its first-half reported net profit rose 22% to €4.34 billion ($4.95 billion), supported by higher investment in electricity networks in Britain, the United States and Brazil.

Net profit adjusted for capital gains from the sale of thermal power plants in Mexico rose 8% in the first six months of the year, the company said, while adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation increased 7% to €8.05 billion.

The company reaffirmed its full-year outlook for adjusted net profit growth comfortably above 8% and said liquidity stood at €21.5 billion, enough to cover 22 months of financing needs.

The dividend per share stood at €0.685, including €0.427 to be paid on July 27, it added.

Iberdrola said first-half investments rose 25% to €7 billion, with more than 70% of the total focused on Britain, the U.S. and Brazil. Investment in networks increased 42% to nearly €4.4 billion, accounting for close to two-thirds of total investment.

Investment in generation exceeded €2.2 billion — more than 70% of it in onshore and offshore wind — and Iberdrola installed more than 1.6 gigawatts of capacity during the period, it said.

The utility also announced it had acquired Caruna — Finland's largest electricity distribution company serving more than 20% of the Nordic country's population — valued at €5 billion.

($1 = 0.8765 euros)