Company News in Brief

Year to 31 March

Daejan Holdings, the property trader, increased pre-tax profits from pounds 13.9m to pounds 16.7m. The rise in profits was achieved after gains of pounds 2.5m were made from the disposal of a subsidiary. Rental income rose to pounds 16.4m ( pounds 15.3m). Earnings per share were boosted to 81p (52.8p). Final dividend is 15p, making 27p (25p).

Ensor Holdings, the vehicle leasing company and building products maker and distributor, incurred a pounds 2.96m ( pounds 3.03m) pre-tax loss, affected by a sharp fall in turnover to pounds 35.8m ( pounds 46.7m). There was also a pounds 1.3m loss on company and property sales. Ken Harrison, chairman, said the group was now leaner. Interest charges fell to pounds 748,000 ( pounds 893,000). Loss per share worsened to 24p (23.5p). No dividend.

Optometrics, the USM-traded optical instruments group with operations in the UK and the US, announced pre- tax profits had declined from dollars 200,000 to dollars 103,000 due to expenditure in the acquisition of new technology and new product development. The company said first half trading would be strong given that orders in the first quarter were more than 40 per cent ahead of the previous year. Earnings per share were cut to 0.007 cents (0.014 cents). No dividend.