Hickson profits rise to pounds 5.6m

SHARES IN Hickson rose 24.4 per cent to 48.5p after the specialist chemicals group unveiled a 30 per cent rise in pre-tax profits to pounds 5.6m for the half to 30 June.

Welcoming "the fundamental reversal of Hickson's fortunes", the chairman, Sir James Hann, said debt had been reduced to pounds 27.4m and the interim dividend restored at 0.6p. A new management team was installed at Hickson in 1995 after it reported a pounds 45m loss with pounds 103.4m debt.