Company News In Brief

Trans Union, one of two US bidders for the credit referencing group UAPT Infolink, has said it will not increase its offer from pounds 5.50 a share. Its rival, Equifax, has bid pounds 6 but this offer may be referred to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission, in which case it will lapse.

Ben Bailey, the construction group, made reduced pre-tax profit of pounds 70,000 ( pounds 77,000) for the six months to 30 June. Earnings per share were 0.45p (0.5p). The dividend is 0.3p (same).

Merivale Moore, the property company, has bought 16 office and industrial properties from Sun Life Assurance for pounds 12.4m. Most are in southern England and the portfolio will return an initial yield of 11.5 per cent.

TBI, the London and Cardiff property investment and development company, has paid pounds 9.7m for a mixed portfolio of 21 properties. The 14 retail units, five industrial units and two office buildings have been bought from Legal & General.

P&P, the computer group, received a 94 per cent take-up for its rights issue.

Costain, the construction group, is to redeem, at 100 per cent of the issue price, the outstanding 7.5 per cent guaranteed redeemable convertible preference shares 2003.

Eaglet Investment Trust made pounds 467,000 of revenues before tax in the 51 weeks to 30 June. The net asset value per share is 110p and the first and final dividend is 1.4p.

Murray International Investment Trust achieved revenues before tax of pounds 10.5m, down from pounds 10.8m, for the half-year to 30 June. Earnings per share were 6.8p (7.05p) and the net asset value was 324.2p compared with 310.6p.

Kerry Group, the Irish food manufacturer, made interim pre-tax profits of Ir pounds 14.96m for the six months to 30 June, compared with Ir pounds 13.6m last time. Earnings per share were 7.9p (7p). The interim dividend is 1p (0.9p).