BLUE CIRCLE PROFITS, DIVIDEND RISE
  Year to end-December Shr 76.7p vs 67.7p
      Div 17p making 23p vs 21p
      Pretax profit 127.0 mln stg vs 116.9 mln
      Turnover 1.10 billion vs 947.2 mln
      Tax 25.0 mln vs 26.3 mln
      Note - company full name is Blue Circle Industries Plc
  &lt;BCIL.L>. Company said it proposes one-for-one capitalisation
  issue
      Gross profit 390.9 mln vs 321.6 mln
      Distribution costs 215.6 mln vs 177.6 mln
      Administrative expenses 65.1 mln vs 58.9 mln
      Other operating income 5.3 mln vs 11.0 mln
      Share of profits of related companies 50.0 mln vs 58.1 mln
      Operating profit 165.5 mln vs 154.2 mln
      Net interest payable 33.6 mln vs 32.2 mln
      Exceptional items 4.9 mln debit vs 5.1 mln debit
      Minorities 3.4 mln vs 6.9 mln
      Extraordinary items after tax 39.5 mln vs 4.2 mln
      Pretax profit includes -
      U.K. 37.7 mln vs 20.5 mln
      U.S. 27.5 mln vs 22.8 mln
      Mexico 15.0 mln vs 20.7 mln
      Australasia 15.7 mln vs 13.2 mln
      Africa 12.0 mln vs 12.6 mln
  

