Tomkins earnings, sales increase

LONDON (Jan. 14)—Tomkins P.L.C.´s industrial and automotive engineering business, which includes the Gates Rubber activities, reported increases in both earnings and sales for the 26-week period ended Oct. 30, 1999. Sales for the business unit grew 11.5 percent, to $1.53 billion, while operating earnings were up 13.1 percent, to $145 million. As a result, the operating margin increased slightly, to 9.5 percent.