Even before the financial year '98-99 had drawn to a close, investors had visualised that the company was all set to post record growth in sales and profit for the eleventh year in succession. That possibly is the reason why the 10-rupee share in BOC Pakistan has galvanised a whopping 156% in fewer than seven months: from Rs 81 on June 30, '99 to Rs 207 on Jan 28, 2000. So much in capital gains, together with 50% final cash dividend and an earlier bonus issue at 15%.
What more can the shareholders' ask? They ought to be dancing in joy at the Annual General Meeting, scheduled to be held on Monday, the January 31.
For the year ended Sept 30, '99, which marked the company's golden jubilee, BOC Pakistan achieved, year-on-year, 12% growth in turnover at Rs 1,145.9m; 26% increase in operating profit, which touched highest ever Rs 377.5m and 19.7% increase in pretax profit to its best at Rs 319.7m. The improved results were powered by hefty contributions from industrial gases and
