Profit at industrial materials and services group BOC, before tax and excluding exceptional items, was US$664.7m for 2000 and US$178.2m for the fiscal fourth quarter. Compared with the same periods in 1999 and excluding currency translation effects, these represented increases of 11% and 4% respectively. The corresponding increases in earnings per share were 11% and 7%. Group turnover was up 15% on a constant currency basis for the year and up 11% for the fiscal fourth quarter. Turnover of BOC's worldwide gases operations improved 11% for 2000 and 8% for the fourth quarter compared with 1999. Operating profit for gases was up 8% for the year and up 3% for the fourth quarter. Year-on-year comparisons include profit on asset disposals in Japan and a charge resulting from the early adoption of a revision to a UK accounting standard. (whole item)
