The shareholders of Al Khalij Holding, owner of Al Khalij Cement Company, have approved 5% cash dividend at the annual general assembly held yesterday under the chairmanship of Abdullah bin Nasser al-Misnad.The dividend will entail an outgo of QR62.16mn for the company, which reported a 4% rise in its net profit to QR73.99mn in 2011 on the back of higher earnings from cement sales.Its operating profit was up 4% to QR69.77mn as operating revenue rose slower than the costs associated with it.Operating revenue rose 17% to QR242.38mn, but operating costs grew faster at 23% to QR172.61mn.Income from investment in associates fell 3% to QR23.84mn, investment income by 26% to QR4.53mn, rental income by 9% to QR2.98mn and income from short-term deposits by 78% to QR0.33mn. There was a gain of QR3.27mn on sale of available-for-sale investments compared to loss of QR3.87mn the previous year.Although general and administrative costs grew 7% to QR40.33mn, its finance costs fell 21% to QR4.94mn. Total assets were valued at QR3.06bn comprising current assets of QR0.34bn and non-current assets of QR2.72bn.Total shareholders’ equity stood at QR1.94bn on a capital base of QR1.24bn and earnings-per-share was QR0.60 at the end of December 31, 2011.