Company News in Brief

Thomas Jourdan, the Corby trouser press and furniture group, plunged to losses of pounds 4.2m (loss pounds 465,000) in the first half, the bulk of which was closure costs. Sales rose 7 per cent to pounds 9.2m. Losses per share were 23.2p (LPS 2.59p). There is no dividend. The shares fell 1p to 31p.

Wyefield has sold its small wall coverings division, which was

part of Lincoln House Furnishings, for about pounds 300,000. The division made pounds 45,000 last year and had a net book value of pounds 270,000.

TT Group's recommended offer for Dale Electric International was declared unconditional. By close of business on Thursday TT Group had received valid acceptances for shares equivalent to 63.7 per cent of the Dale Electric capital.

BP France sold a subsidiary operating 90 service stations in south-west France to Repsol, the Spanish oil company, for an undisclosed sum. The deal is suject to approval by the French authorities.

Asea Brown Boveri has signed a contract with GVK Industries of India to help set up an 8.39bn rupee ( pounds 175m) gas-based power project in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh. Under the 5.5bn rupee contract, ABB will take up the engineering, procurement and construction work.