New deals help BOC rise

INDUSTRIAL gases group BOC took its recent new business wins to $350m (£194m) after bagging two 15-year contracts to supply steel giant Corus and oil supermajor BP.

Chief executive Tony Isaac said that including BOC's recent supply deal with Chinese oil firm Sinopec, the wins should add £140m to annualised sales in the coming years. 'The economy is good for us,' he said.

Pre-tax profits in the third quarter, the three months to 30 June, rose 13% to £130.3m on turnover of £1.1bn, up 6%.

BOC's semiconductor arm BOC Edwards, hit hard in the aftermath of the tech boom, registered strong sales.

Isaac countered rising speculation that the group may look for a e7bn (£4.67bn) acquisition of German rival Linde, saying: 'We don't see a large, transforming deal, on the horizon.' BOC shares eased 13 1/2p to 920p.