Company News in Brief

Argos, the catalogue-based retailer, reported an 'encouraging' improvment in like-for-like sales compared with the last half of 1992, at the annual shareholders' meeting.

Sidlaw Group, the oil services company, held pre-tax profits flat at pounds 4.6m in the six months to 31 March. The interim dividend was raised from 3.75p to 4.25p.

Parkland Textiles, the wool yarn and fabric maker, announced taxable losses for the year to 28 February of pounds 519,000, down from a pounds 2.2m loss. The total dividend was held at 2p.

Select Appointments reported a worsening loss before tax from pounds 1.8m in 1991 to pounds 2.5m in 1992. There was no dividend.

Intercare, the medical equipment supplier, has bought a Dutch electric wheelchair manufacturer and distributor, Revalidatie-Teechniek Helmond, for pounds 3m to bolster its existing buggy operation.

Excalibur Group announced that its bid talks had fallen through. Last month it said it had received an approach that might lead to an offer for the company.

Donelon Tyson made pre-tax profits of pounds 1.56m in 1992, down from pounds 3.06m. The final dividend was unchanged at 1.2p.

Pex Group made a loss before tax of pounds 908,000 in the year ended 31 January, compared with a pounds 1.44m profit last time. There was also a pounds 1.3m extraordinary cost. There was no dividend.

JO Walker & Co made a pounds 402,000 loss before tax, down from a pounds 467,000 loss. It passed the dividend.

MB-Caradon said that Daniel Cohen, Peter Hewett and Tim Walker were appointed managing directors from 1 June 1993.