Company News in Brief

British Alcan Aluminium, the aluminium producer and processor that underwent restructuring and reorganisation in the past year at a cost of almost pounds 30m, has deepened pre-tax losses to pounds 4.7m (loss pounds 3.2m) for the half-year to 30 June.

Williams Tea Holdings reduced pre-tax profits to pounds 3.7m ( pounds 6.5m) for the year to 31 March. Final dividend is 10p, making 20p (25p).

Beales Hunter, the textile, refrigeration and electrical group, lifted pre-tax profits from pounds 1.8m to pounds 2.3m in the year to 31 May. Final dividend is 6.95p, making a higher total of 9.25p (9.15p).

Fairhaven International, which provides engineering and construction services to the oil and gas industries, advanced 15.9 per cent to dollars 9.3m (dollars 8m) pre-tax profit for the half-year to 30 June. Interim dividend is 0.2 cents.

Chieftain Group, the USM- quoted provider of insulation and fireproofing services, pushed pre- tax profits ahead from pounds 517,000 to pounds 620,000 for the half-year to 30 June. Interim dividend improved from 1.9p to 2.1p.