Introduction

Directors are pleased to present
the unaudited results for the six months ended 31 December 2008. Net earnings after tax and minority interests were $172 million, 27 percent lower than the previous corresponding period. Operating earnings (earnings before interest and tax) were $303 million, compared with $394 million earned in the same period of the previous year. Group sales increased by 6 percent to $3.8 billion. more...