Company News in Brief

Year to 31 March

Associated Nursing Services has met the forecast of pounds 2.3m ( pounds 1.6m) pre-tax profit that it made at the time of last month's pounds 10m rights issue. The group intends to use the funds to build 700 beds a year from 1995, mostly in joint ventures. The final dividend is 1.5p, making 2p (1p).

Evans of Leeds lifted pre-tax profits to pounds 9.7m ( pounds 8.8m). EPS 5.72p (5.69p). Total dividend is 2.53p (2.285p).

Morris Ashby pushed pre-tax profits up pounds 1.8m ( pounds 1.5m), bolstered by a 30 per cent growth in turnover to pounds 24.6m. EPS 13.6p (13.5p). Total dividend 6p (5.2p).

Neepsend, the engineer, turned around from pounds 99,000 taxable loss to pounds 761,000 pre- tax profit. EPS recovered to 2.12p (LPS 0.32p). The total dividend is 1.25p (0.75p).

Sims Food Group made pounds 103,000 pre-tax profit (loss pounds 586,000). Total dividend is held at 7.5p.

Sterling Publishing climbed to pounds 7m ( pounds 5.3m) pre-tax profit. EPS 10p (7.8p). Total dividend is 3.6p (3p).

Worthington Group almost doubled pre-tax profits to pounds 1.2m ( pounds 652,000). EPS 4.6p (3p).

Others

Howden Group pre-tax profits rose from pounds 18.5m to pounds 27.5m in the year to 30 April. EPS 6.7p (6p). Final dividend is 1.61p, making 2.43p (2.2p).

Shani Group made pounds 1.7m pre-tax profit for the nine months to 30 April (profit pounds 1.3m for comparable six months). EPS 8p (6.3p). Interim dividend is 3p (1.8p).