Companies in Brief

Bullough, the industrial holding company, is to acquire Trianco Group, a privately owned heating appliances maker based in Sheffield, for a little under pounds 9.9m in shares, loan notes and cash.

Ruberoid, a specialist in waterproofing systems, has agreed to buy Hyload Inc of the US from Coal Products and Tarmac for dollars 3m. It is also buying the 50 per cent of Hyload UK it does not already own from a joint venture with Coal Products for pounds 4.6m. Hyload makes products for the construction industry.

Partco Group, the automotive parts distributor, is buying Woodhead RSR, a supplier of components for heavy, commercial and public service vehicles, from Carclo Engineering for pounds 2.4m in cash. It is Partco's first acquisition since it was floated on the Stock Exchange in March.

British Alcan, the aluminium ingots and products maker, climbed from pounds 5.2m taxable loss to pounds 7.3m pre-tax profit for the half-year to 30 June. Turnover grew to pounds 394.6m (pounds 381.1m). No dividend.

London Securities, the property and investment firm, reduced taxable losses from pounds 131,000 to pounds 116,000 in the six months to 31 March. LPS 0.2p. No dividend.

Wholesale Fittings, the electrical products distributor, increased pre-tax profits to pounds 2.3m (pounds 2m) for the year to 30 April. Sales increased to pounds 72.4m (pounds 62.4m), producing a 30 per cent rise in operating profits to pounds 2.4m (pounds 1.85m). EPS improved to 11.22p (9.83p). Total dividend held at 11.7p.