Company News In Brief

Seacon Holdings, the USM-quoted shipowner, operator and cargo handling, storage, distribution and hotel group, yesterday announced a 26 per cent decline in pre-tax profits from pounds 2.3m to pounds 1.7m for the year to 30 September. Turnover increased from pounds 18.7m to pounds 19.3m. Earnings per share slipped to 11.5p (15.9p). Final dividend is 3.4p, making a higher total payout of 5.7p (5.1p).

Updown Investment, the investment trust, declared a higher final dividend from 12.5p to 13p per share for the year ended 31 December. Net asset value per share grew from 531.1p to 705.13p. Pre-tax profits for the year increased sharply from pounds 13,000 to pounds 93,000, while earnings per share improved 8 per cent to 16.03p (14.82p).

Drayton Far Eastern Trust, which invests in stock markets of the Far Eastern and Pacific region, declared a 0.55p final dividend, making a total unchanged at 0.675p for the year ended 31 December. Net asset value per share increased to 164.8p (107.3p).