Company News in Brief

Beales Hunter, the electrical, electro-mechanical components and textile manufacturer, lifted pre-tax profits from pounds 2.2m to pounds 2.6m in the year to 31 May. Turnover increased to pounds 51.6m ( pounds 47.8m). Earnings per share were 19.2p (16.2p). The total dividend rises to 9.7p (9.4p).

Ward Holdings, the builder, developer and plant hirer, announced an increase in pre-tax profits from pounds 347,000 to pounds 2.1m in the six months to 30 April. Earnings per share grew to 3.8p (0.7p). Interim dividend is 0.5p.

Half-year to 30 June

Metal Bulletin, the publisher, reported an increase in pre-tax profits from pounds 871,000 to pounds 1.2m, on turnover up from pounds 6.9m to pounds 8m. Earnings per share rose to 8.1p (6p). Interim dividend is 4p (2.9p).

Flying Flowers, a distributor of flowers, posted higher pre-tax profits of pounds 589,000 ( pounds 312,000). It more than doubled sales from pounds 3m to pounds 6.25m. Earnings per share jumped to 2.36p (1.54p). Interim dividend is 0.76p.

JN Nichols, the soft drinks group, achieved pounds 3.8m ( pounds 3.4m) pre-tax profit. Turnover grew from pounds 24.1m to pounds 26.8m. Earnings per share were 6.32p (5.76p). Interim dividend is 2.25p (2.16p). The group said production of its Vimto brand in Moscow had begun.

Union, the investment holding company, made pounds 793,000 taxable loss (profit pounds 11.3m). Loss per share is 3.63p (27.55p). Dividend is 1.5p.