AVANA DEFENCE DOCUMENT FORECASTS PROFITS RISE <Avana Group Plc>, defending itself against a bid from Ranks Hovis McDougall Plc <RHML.L>, RHM, forecast a 3.4 mln stg rise in profits in the 1986/87 year. It said pretax profit should rise to 23.0 mln stg in the year to April 2, 1987 from 19.6 mln previously, and reach 27.5 mln in 1987/88. It expects share earnings to rise to 46.9p from 38.7p and to 51.2p in 1987/88, and the 1986/87 dividend to be 17.0p net, a 41.6 pct increase. The bid from RHM, rejected by the food and bakery group, is worth about 270 mln stg. RHM currently has a 22.9 pct stake in purchases and acceptances.