Total sales of the company was slightly lower at Rs 139.9 crore as against Rs 140 crore in 1995-96. Profit before tax declined to Rs 13.6 crore from Rs 16.4 crore the previous year. After adding the surplus brought forward from the previous year, profit available for appropriation stood at Rs 7.82 crore (Rs 9.02 crore). The board of directors of Harrisons Malayalam, part of the RPG group, slashed dividend to 20 per cent from 35 per cent declared the previous year.