THE chairman of Readymix plc said yesterday there was "every likelihood" this year would be even better for his company than 1996.

Mr Martin Rafferty was speaking at his company's annual general meeting. The company made profits before tax of £8.7 million last year.

"Trading got off to an excellent start in the first quarter exceeding our expectations and producing profits which were ahead of the first quarter of 1996," Mr Rafferty told shareholders.

Shareholders voted for the introduction of an executive share option scheme, a profit sharing scheme for Irish employees and directors, and a savings related share option scheme for employees in the North and the Isle of Man.