Company News in Brief

Armitage Brothers, the pet food and accessories manufacturer, announced an increase in pre-tax profits from pounds 851,000 to pounds 875,000 for the year to 31 May. Turnover was only slightly ahead at pounds 21.9m ( pounds 21.8m), but the company said Christmas orders were up. An increase in the tax charge caused earnings per share to slip to 14.6p (16.4p). Final dividend is 3.6p, making 6.2p (6p).

Kleinwort Overseas Investment Trust, which invests in North America, the Pacific basin and Europe, declared a 1.5p dividend for the half-year to 30 June, unchanged from last time. Net asset value per share at the end of the six-month period had grown to 253.5p (180.4p). It generated pounds 2.5m (pounds 2.36m) taxable revenue.

Metal Bulletin, the conference organiser, which publishes trade journals, directories and books, lifted pre- tax profits by 22 per cent from pounds 712,000 to pounds 871,000 in the half-year to 30 June, helped by a 19 per cent increase in turnover to pounds 6.9m ( pounds 5.8m). Earnings per share improved from 5.1p to 6p. The interim dividend is 2.9p, up from 2.7p previously. The group's shares closed 6p higher on the day at 302p.

Reflex Group, the Dublin-based computer services group that distributes hardware and software products, recovered from a Ir pounds 4.5m taxable loss to Ir pounds 316,000 profit in the six months to 30 June, despite a decline in turnover to Ir pounds 4.3m (Ir pounds 5.6m). The result reflects the company's decision last year to wind down its computer leasing business to concentrate and develop its interests in computer services and software products, as part of a major rationalisation and reconstruction that began in September 1992. The group also benefited from lower interest costs resulting from reduced debts and lower interest rates. It returned earnings per share of 2.01p (LPS 26.2p). There is no dividend.