Company News in Brief

Year ended 31 December

Bilton, the civil engineer, increased taxable profits from pounds 17.4m to pounds 17.7m. Earnings per share rose to 28.3p (27.7p). Total dividend is 18.9p (18p).

Carlisle Group, provider of property services, reduced pre- tax losses to pounds 947,000 ( pounds 1.2m). Loss per share is 2.8p (3.2p). No dividend (nil).

Chepstow Racecourse lifted pre-tax profits to pounds 247,000 ( pounds 157,000). Earnings per share jumped to 41p (27.2p). Total dividend held at 1p.

Magnolia Group, publisher and picture frame equipment importer, reported pre-tax profits at pounds 84,000 ( pounds 104,000). Total dividend 0.1p (5.4p).

Ross Group, electrical products maker, advanced to pounds 3.7m ( pounds 1.3m) pre-tax profit. Earnings per share 2.45p (1.46p). Total dividend is 0.65p (0.45p).

Six months to 31 December

A Beckman, the textiles merchant, fell to pounds 342,000 ( pounds 556,000) pre-tax profit. Earnings per share 2.2p (3.1p). interim dividend is 1.2p (1.63p).

Dowding & Mills, electrical and mechanical services provider, slipped to pounds 1.8m ( pounds 3m) pre-tax profit. Earnings per share 0.61p (1.29p). Interim dividend is held at 0.92p

Other

Vinten, the camera systems group, has acquired Bogen, a US distributor of photographic accessories and equipment for about pounds 12m from Victor Hasselblad, the Swedish camera maker.