Company News in Brief

Paramount, the pub operator, achieved higher pre-tax profits of pounds 273,000 ( pounds 261,000) in the six months to 30 November. EPS 0.41p (0.33p). No dividend.

Year ended 31 December

Baltic reversed pounds 6.55m taxable losses to pounds 4.4m pre-tax profit. EPS 8p (16.9p loss). Total dividend is increased to 1.5p (1p).

Record Holdings, the tool maker, more than doubled pre-tax profits to pounds 2.4m ( pounds 1.1m). EPS 4.5p (1.7p). Total dividend is held 3.6p.

Wyvale Garden Centres' dividend payout rose 10 per cent to 4.4p on a 27 per cent rise in pre-tax profits to pounds 4.45m ( pounds 3.5m). EPS 9.7p (7.8p).

Six months to 31 December

Galliford, the construction firm, maintained the dividend payout at 0.5p despite a fall in pre-tax profits to pounds 267,000 ( pounds 327,000) pre-tax profit. EPS slipped to 0.2p (0.27p).

Linx Printing, ink-jet printers maker, incurred pounds 391,000 taxable loss ( pounds 763,000 profit). LPS 1.78p (EPS 3.7p). Dividend 0.25p (0.87p).

Renishaw, metrology and inspection equipment maker, made pounds 2.8m ( pounds 3.1m) pre-tax profit. EPS 4p (4.4p). Dividend is held at 2.5p.