Company News in Brief

A G Barr, the soft drinks maker lifted pre-tax profits to pounds 2.2m ( pounds 1.6m) in the six months to 30 April. EPS improved to 7.95p (5.91p). Dividend is 2p (1.75p).

Year to 31 March

Bromsgrove Industries, the specialist engineer, revealed a slight drop in pre-tax profits to pounds 7.2m ( pounds 7.6m). Turnover rose to pounds 123.7m ( pounds 109.5m). EPS fell to 7p (7.7p). Total dividend is 4.5p (4.4p).

Drew Scientific, analytical instruments maker, incurred pounds 1.5m taxable loss against pounds 150,000 profit previously. Loss per share is 6.1p.

Hamlet Group, supplier of inexpensive men's and women's wear, lifted pre-tax profits from pounds 3.9m to pounds 5.3m. Turnover grew to pounds 71.9m ( pounds 54m). EPS 11.7p (10.93p). Total dividend jumped to 4p (0.96p).

Shield Diagnostics, which makes and supplies vitro diagnostic tests, has incurred pounds 189,000 taxable loss on turnover of pounds 1.67bn. Loss per share is 1.41p.

Year to 30 April

D C Cook Holdings, the motor retailer, achieved pounds 2.2m pre-tax profit (loss pounds 132,000). Group turnover rose to pounds 143.5m ( pounds 107.9m) as sales from the motor division continued to grow, with the number of new and used cars sold up 21 and 32 per cent respectively. Interest costs fell from pounds 1.5m to pounds 908,000. EPS increased to 3.6p (0.44p). Total dividend is 1p (0.6p).

Ellis and Everard, the chemicals distributor, saw pre-tax profits advance 30 per cent to pounds 15.9m, due to higher prices for commodity chemicals. EPS rose to 13.4p (10.3p). Total dividend is 7.6p (7.05p).