Britain's Rexam Plc (REX.L), the world's biggest maker of drink cans posted a 26 percent rise in annual profits on Thursday and said it was confident of another strong performance. Pre-tax profits before exceptional items and goodwill amortisation rose to 274 million pounds ($437 million) in 2002, including pension credit of 35 million pounds, from 218 million a year earlier. Analysts had forecast pre-tax profits including the pension credit of 269 to 275 million pounds.