Company News in Brief

JIB Group is to merge Reeves Brown Associates, the employee benefit consultants and actuaries in which it has just acquired a controlling interest for pounds 4.74m, with its existing UK employee benefits division.

Clayhithe, the finance and management provider which intends to develop as an electronics and engineering group, turned around from pounds 366,000 taxable loss to pounds 1.1m pre-tax profit for the year to 31 March. Turnover slipped to pounds 35.5m ( pounds 35.9m). Loss per share was cut to 0.8p (4.4p). Final dividend is 1.875p, making 2.625p (1.5p).

Hewetson, the window and staircase maker and building accessories merchant, reported a fall in pre-tax profits from pounds 503,000 to pounds 407,000 in the year to 31 March. Turnover rose to pounds 31.2m ( pounds 28.6m). Earnings per share are 0.38p (1.36p). A 0.75p final dividend keeps the total payout unchanged at 1.25p.

Sleepy Kids, the children's animation and merchandising group, revealed a sharp rise in pre-tax profits from pounds 3,000 to pounds 263,000 in the six months to 30 April. The results largely reflect the success of the group's main property, Budgie the Little Helicopter, and the signing of a further 17 UK and overseas licensing agreements in the period. Turnover jumped from pounds 127,000 to pounds 621,000. Earnings per share improved to 0.87p (0.01p). No dividend.

Soundtracs, the electronic audio equipment maker, recorded higher pre-tax profits of pounds 307,000 ( pounds 251,000) in the six months to 30 April. Turnover increased to pounds 3.3m ( pounds 2.6m). Earnings per share are 2.05p (1.67p). Interim dividend is 0.92p.