FIRST time contributions from acquired British and Irish activities helped to lift profits by 195 per cent to nearly £11 million sterling at Rubicon, the British engineering group, in the 12 months to the end of May.

Turnover rose 212 per cent to £177 million.

Most of the increase in stated profits came from consolidation results from last November's £94 million acquisition of the Calder Group.

In addition, in March Rubicon paid £25 million to buy Higgins Engineering, the specialist manufacturers of electronically integrated cabinets based in Galway.

Mr Joe Higgins, managing director of Higgins Engineering, joined the main Rubicon board in April.

Rubicon's chairman, Mr David, Carruthers, said the Higgins acquisition had extended the group's, metal fabrications business RYLAND Group, the British motor dealers with major Toyota" and Daihatsu operations in Northern Ireland, has reported record pre tax profits up from £3.2 million sterling to £3.6 million on turnover increased from £237 million to £313 million for the 12 months ended April 1996, writes Tim Roberts.

The final dividend is up 8.5 per cent to 2.55p, making a total for the year of 3.72p up from 2.62p.