Brunel buys GBE tobacco division

Brunel buys GBE tobacco division

BRUNEL HOLDINGS, the specialist engineers, has bought Primary Tobacco Division from GBE International for pounds 4.5m in cash. Brunel's pre-tax profits fell to pounds 3.3m before exceptionals for the year to June from pounds 4.2m the previous year. However, exceptionals in 1997/98 of pounds 3.6m, mainly on the sale of Brunel America, boosted pre-tax profits to pounds 6.9m from a loss of pounds 5.4m. Brunel named Ron Petersen as chief executive, replacing TC Walker