Company News in Brief

Aitken Hume International, the banking and financial services group, fell to pounds 2.3m ( pounds 3m) pre-tax profit for the year to 31 March. It passed the final dividend to strengthen its capital base. Total dividend is halved to 0.5p.

Prism Leisure achieved pre-tax profits of pounds 975,000 ( pounds 761,000) in year to 31 March. Final dividend is 3.95p, making 5.45p (4.95p).

Multitone Electronics, maker of radio systems, lifted pre-tax profits to pounds 1.9m ( pounds 1.4m) in the year to 30 April. Total dividend is 3p (2p).

Pelican Group, the restaurateur, made pounds 453,000 ( pounds 446,000) pre-tax profit for the year to 31 March. Final dividend is held at 1p.

Nobo Group, maker of office and business products, almost halved pre-tax profits to pounds 1.1m ( pounds 2.05m) in the year to 30 April. Final dividend is 2.5p, making 3.5p (6.6p).

John D Wood & Co, the estate agent, incurred a pounds 497,000 pre-tax loss (profit pounds 15,000) in the year to 30 April. No dividend.

Morris Ashby, the metal forming group, edged ahead with pre-tax profits of pounds 1.2m ( pounds 1.05m) for the year to 31 March. Final dividend is 3p, making 4.7p (4.1p).

Bucknall Group, the quantity surveyor, incurred pounds 1.9m pre-tax loss (profit pounds 1.2m) in the year to 30 April. No dividend (4.8p).

Sterling Publishing returned to the black with pre-tax profits of pounds 2m (loss pounds 1.1m) in the year to 30 April. Final dividend is 2p, making 2.5p (same).