Annual Report to Shareholders 1997

4 - Financial Highlights

REVENUES

• Sales revenue increased by 5.8% from $283m to $299m.

EARNINGS BEFORE INTEREST AND TAX

• EBIT increased by 0.4% from $60.2m to $60.5m.

PROFITS

• Group operating profit after tax increased by 2.1% to $32.2m.

EARNINGS AND DIVIDENDS

• Earnings per share rose from 19.8 cents per share to 20.2 cents per share.
• Annual ordinary dividend of 10.30 cents per share.
• Annual preferred dividend of 11.33 cents per share.

ASSETS

• Total assets reached $437m.
• EBIT return on total average assets was 14.0%.

SHAREHOLDERS FUNDS AND RETURNS

• Shareholders equity increased to $247m.
• The return on average shareholders funds was 14.1%.

STAFF

• Membership of the employee share scheme grew to 637

Full time employee numbers are 2,903