Company News in Brief

Unilever has agreed with Diamalt and BM Backermuhlen in Stuttgart to buy Diamalt's interests in baking products and malt extracts as of October for an undisclosed amount.

Oceonics Group, the marine services company, is to raise pounds 4.35m net of expenses via a placing and open offer of 4.6 million new 6 per cent preference shares to redeem existing 9.25 per cent preference shares. Group pre-tax profits slipped to pounds 2m ( pounds 2.7m) in the year to 31 March. EPS halved to 0.6p (1.2p). No dividend.

John Lusty Group, manufacturer of imported food products, deepened pre-tax losses from pounds 970,000 to pounds 2.25m for the year to 31 January. Loss per share worsened from 15.34p to 19.38p. No dividend.

Radiant Metal Finishing incurred pounds 113,000 ( pounds 94,000) taxable loss in the year to 28 February. No dividend.

Anglia Secure Homes reduced taxable losses from pounds 5.1m to pounds 2.3m in six months to 31 March. LPS cut from 15.4p (7.2). No dividend.

Half year to 30 June

Castle Cairn I T was unable to pay a dividend. Net asset value per share is 57.34p (49.78p).

Finsbury Smaller Companies Trust's net asset value per share grew from 115.1p to 150.2p. No dividend.

Year to 30 April

Forminster, which makes outerwear, pushed pre-tax profits ahead to pounds 2.2m ( pounds 2.1m). EPS 53.79p (46.7p). Total dividend is 14p (12.53p).

Heritage, housewares distributor, made pounds 115,000 pre-tax profit (loss pounds 177,000). EPS 21.4p (LPS 3.29p).

Seet, the clothing fabrics group, sharply reduced pre-tax losses from pounds 370,000 to pounds 61,000. Loss per share is cut from 9.07p to 1.8p. No dividend.