SABMiller beat analyst estimates as its revs jumped 15%  to $21.4 bil for fiscal yr thru Mar 08.  EBITA (operating profit before exceptional items and amortization of intangible assets) jumped 15% to $4.1 bil. SABMiller able to keep its margin steady at 17.4% even tho its costs per hectoliter up 6% and its revs per hl up 4%.  Its stock up 4% so far today.  SABMiller said it had confidence that it would continue to be able to offset commodity cost hikes with price increases in coming fiscal yr. 

Miller EBITA jumped $102 mil, 27%, including $33 mil from Ball settlement.  Miller at 11% of group EBITA and its improved margin of 9.3% still only about half of total group margin.  That didn’t include $51 mil in special items “in relation to retention agreements” entered into in advance of  JV and “other integration costs.”  In an interview supplied with release, SABMiller ceo Graham Mackay spoke of “strong recovery” at Miller, “strong profit growth based on pricing and cost recovery.” Miller Lite up 1.1% for fiscal yr, High Life up 1.1% and Gen Draft down 10.2% (selling-day adjusted).  More in BMI.