Convergys Corp., the Cincinnati-based billing and customer care provider, reported an 8 percent increase in earnings on flat revenues in the fourth quarter.

        For the three months ended Dec. 31, Convergys, which announced a billing contract extension through 2006 with wireless service provider Triton PCS, said profit was $56.4 million, or 33 cents a share, up from $52.2 million, or 30 cents a share. Fourth-quarter revenues were $590.7 million, down from $594 million a year ago.

        Chairman Jim Orr said the performance was good despite the weak economy.

        For the full year, Convergys, which completed the major acquisition of Geneva Technology Ltd. in Great Britain, said net income increased 14 percent to $215.5 million, or $1.24 a share, excluding special items, from $189.2 million, or $1.09 a share, in the previous year. Total revenues increased 6 percent to $2.32 billion from $2.2 billion in 2000.

        Mr. Orr, who has made international growth a priority for Convergys, said recent contract wins in Europe and a recently announced Asia-Pacific joint venture will fuel faster growth.

        Looking ahead, Convergys said it expects first-quarter earnings of 34 to 36 cents a share and is comfortable with analysts' expectations for the full year of earnings per share between $1.57 and $1.65.
       

In other reports

        Cinergy Corp.: The Cincinnati utility holding company said fourth-quarter earnings rose 17 percent as the company cut costs to offset a drop in sales from mild weather and the U.S. recession.

        Net income rose to $108.2 million, or 69 cents a share, from $92.1 million, or 58 cents, a year earlier, company spokesman Steve Brash said. The year-earlier period included a per-share loss of 6 cents related to a lawsuit settlement. Revenue fell 19 percent to $2.25 billion from $2.77 billion.

        Mild weather and the slumping economy reduced industrial sales, Cinergy chairman and chief executive officer James Rogers said in a statement. Earnings at Cinergy's regulated utility businesses fell to 29 cents a share from 49 cents a year earlier, the company said.

        For the year, Cinergy earned $442.3 million, or $2.75 a diluted share, compared with $399.5 million, or $2.50 a diluted share, in 2000. Revenue jumped to $12.9 billion last year from $8.4 billion in 2000.

        Sara Lee Corp.: The food and household products maker, which moved the headquarters of its food business to Blue Ash last year, said fiscal second-quarter profits fell 80 percent as it spent more on advertising and integrating operations.

        For the three months ended Dec. 29, the Chicago-based company said net income fell to $160 million, or 20 cents a share, from $798 million, or 92 cents, a year earlier.

        Sales rose 4.9 percent to $4.99 billion from $4.76 billion a year earlier, helped by the company's purchase of Earthgrains Co. in August. Sales of its meat business, which includes Hillshire Farm and Kahn's, were basically flat at $1.09 billion. The company narrowed its profit forecast for the fiscal year to $1.37 to $1.40 a share.

        Bloomberg News contributed to this report.
       

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