Company News in Brief

AAH, the pharmaceutical, building products and consumer products distributor, has bought Peak Systems and associated companies for a cash price of pounds 1.1m with a deferred payment of up to pounds 1.4m based on future profits.

BWD Securities, the stockbroker and fund manager, increased pre- tax profits from pounds 1.7m to pounds 3m in the year to 30 November. Turnover rose to pounds 14.5m ( pounds 10.5m). Earnings per share are 11.1p (6.4p). Final dividend is 2.5p, making 4p (3.2p).

Jos Holdings, the investment trust, is to maintain the dividend at 5.75p for the six months to 31 January. It made pounds 385,000 ( pounds 386,000) pre-tax profit.

SR Gent, the clothes maker, improved pre-tax profits to pounds 1.2m ( pounds 986,000) in the six months to 31 December. Turnover edged up to pounds 62.4m ( pounds 59.8m). Earnings per share increased to 1.8p (1.5p). Interim dividend is 0.9p (0.75p).

Year ended 31 December

Clayton, Son & Co, the engineers, reduced pre-tax losses to pounds 1.1m ( pounds 1.4m). Turnover rose to pounds 20.4m ( pounds 16.6m). Loss per share was cut to 42.7p (47.45p). No dividend .

Comac Group, supplier of computer personnel, halved pre-tax profits from pounds 400,000 to pounds 200,000, despite a sharp rise in turnover to pounds 19.8m ( pounds 11.1m). Earnings per share are 3.76p (3.7p). Total dividend is held at 1.5p.

Freeman Group, supplier of insulation materials, has more than doubled pre-tax profits from pounds 496,000 to pounds 1m. Turnover grew from pounds 58.6m to pounds 64.3m. Earnings per share jumped to 10.4p (2.7p). Total dividend 6p (5p).

Stat-Plus Group, printer and retailer of legal stationery, slipped to pounds 3.4m ( pounds 3.6m) pre-tax profit. Earnings per share fell to 10.7p (11.3p). Total dividend is 8.8p (8p).