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 <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