The plastic packaging business of Rexam (London / UK; www.rexam.com) recorded underlying profits in 2007 to GBP 83m (EUR 110m), up almost 4% year-on-year. Sales increased 2.2% to GBP 725m, while the return on sales (ROS) was up marginally on 2006 at 11.4%. The O-I Plastics business bought from Owens-Illinois in August last year produced an operating profit of GBP 22m on sales of GBP 155m. Overall, Rexam’s underlying operating profit fell 5% to GBP 349m while pretax earnings tumbled 7% to GBP 245m, despite strong sales growth of 11% to GBP 3.57 bn.