COMPANY NEWS IN BRIEF

Cosalt, the holiday homes, fibres, safety equipment and workwear group, increased taxable profits from £765,000 to £828,000 for the half- year to 26 February on turnover ahead from £30.88m to £33.36m. Earnings per share improved from 4.11p to 4.48p. The interim dividend is lifted to 3.25p, from 3p. The company said that it was looking to make further acquisitions as well as growing organically.

Broadstoner Holdings, which was formerly Sears Engineering Holdings, reported taxable profits of £14.1m, up from £4.3m, for the year to 31 January. The result included a profit of £11m on the sale of fixed asset investments.

Ramco Energy, the oil services company, made pre-tax profits of £1.62m in the year to 31 December. The result compared with a profit of £348,000 in 1993. Earnings per share were 5.56p, sharply up from 0.6p. The final dividend will be doubled to 1p.

Glenchewton, the distributor of toys and electrical components, lost £468,000 in 1994 compared with a £606,000 taxable profit the year before. Loss per share was 1.85p, against earnings of 1.89p. There is no dividend payment.

Hollas Group, which imports and distributes made-up garments, lost £1.35m before tax in the year to 31 March compared with a £165,000 profit in 1993/94. Loss per share was 1.03p. There is a same-again second interim dividend of 0.3p.

S&U, the consumer credit group, raised pre-tax profits from £5.6m to £6.05m in the year to 31 January. Earnings per share climbed from 30.73p to 33.03p. Final dividend is 9.5p, which raises the total from 10.45p to 12.5p.