Company News in Brief

British Empire Securities & General Trust, the investment trust, returned slightly higher taxable revenues of pounds 1.9m ( pounds 1.8m) for the year to 30 September. Gains from dealing in equities rose from pounds 123,000 to pounds 413,000. Net asset value per share grew to 92.82p (60.47p). Total dividend is 0.93p (0.89p).

CIA Group, which buys advertising time and space in broadcast and publishing media, has formed a new company called CIA Pacific to cover the Pacific Rim region. In partnership with Pamela Dunn, the former international media co-ordinator for Guinness, the first office has been opened in Hong Kong. As managing director of the new venture Ms Dunn will hold 40 per cent and CIA 60 per cent of the equity.

Lloyds Chemists, the drug store and health foods retailer, has bought Dobbin & Stewart, a pharmaceutical wholesaler based in Belfast, for pounds 800,000 in cash. The acquisition is equal to Dobbin's assets. Dobbin & Stewart's turnover for the year to 30 April amounted to pounds 5.75m.