Company News in Brief

Atreus is the new name for URS, which had trading in its shares suspended last week. URS was little more than a shell - now three bathroom fittings firms have been reversed into it. A placing and public offer of shares hopes to raise pounds 5m, giving the group a market capitalisation of pounds 7.2m.

Fairway Group, supplier of business forms, educational products and print finishing services, reported a slight fall in pre-tax profits from pounds 1.8m to pounds 1.5m for the year ended 31 December. A 48 per cent rise in turnover from pounds 19.8m to pounds 29.3m included contributions from GLS Fairway (pounds 18m) and Tonbridge Trade Binders. Both were acquired in June 1991. Turnover also included one- and two-month contributions from Spectrum Marketing Services and Quickbond (trading as Paperback Binders), acquired in November and December respectively. Final dividend is 2.15p, making 3.15p.

Dakota Group, the packaging products and manuals maker based in Dublin, reversed taxable profits of Ir pounds 1.2m into Ir pounds 1.1m pre-tax loss in the year to 30 September. Turnover declined to Ir pounds 26.9m (Ir pounds 29.8m). The group made write-offs amounting to Ir pounds 1.2m in relation to the losses it incurred when it disposed of most of its interest in Formprint and BG Turnkey. Interest charges rose to Ir pounds 1m from Ir pounds 840,000. The company said its bankers agreed to provide security for its borrowings. No dividend.

Jos Holdings, the investment trust, declared a total dividend of 5.75p for the half year to 31 January. Net asset value per capital share is 196.2p.

Pacific Horizon Investment Trust's net asset value over the six-month period to 31 January increased to 36.44p (26.26p at 31 July 1992). No dividend.

Primadona, the investment trust, held the dividend at 2p for the six months to 31 December. Net asset value rose to 207.14p (175.51p).

Dunedin Income Growth Investment Trust is keeping the dividend for the year to 31 January at 25.4p. Net asset value grew 10 per cent to 596.5p (542.2p).