cimic group ltd on thursday said firstquarter profit increased underpinned by growth in its australian construction and services businesses the australialisted company said net profit after tax totaled 108 million australian dollars us80 million for the januarymarch quarter that was up from a100 million a year earlier cimics revenue and profits increased during the first quarter with growth in our australian construction segment and additional operations and maintenance work contributing to the services segment said chief executive juan santamaria a takeover bid for cimic from its major shareholder hochtief ag is currently due to close april 26 by april 11 hochtief had acquired an interest of almost 95 cimic said