Company News in Brief

Year to 31 March

Chamberlin & Hill, which makes iron castings and electrical conduit fittings, revealed lower pre- tax profits of pounds 1.55m ( pounds 1.7m). Turnover edged up to pounds 21.9m ( pounds 20.2m). Earnings per share slipped to 15.78p (16.07p). Total dividend is 6.5p (6.25p).

Young & Co's Brewery, which brews and bottles beer and sells wines, spirits and cider, maintained pre-tax profits at pounds 5.2m despite a slight decline in turnover from pounds 92.9m to pounds 92.3m. Earnings per share 26.43p (26.4p). Total dividend is 15p (14.5p).

Six months to 31 March

Countryside Properties, the housebuilder and property investment company, increased pre-tax profits from pounds 2.6m to pounds 3.7m, with a 62 per cent rise in turnover to pounds 67.8m ( pounds 41.8m). Growth in activity was most apparent in the residential and commercial property divisions, up 51 and 304 per cent respectively. Earnings per share (4.1p) and the interim dividend (1.41p) were unchanged.

Leeds Group achieved pounds 3.4m ( pounds 2.9m) pre-tax profit. It said the depressed high street fashion business and increases in wool and cotton prices were more than offset through the printing of curtain and upholstery fabrics and the dyeing of a wide range of yarns. This helped to push operating profits up 23 per cent to pounds 7.4m. Earnings per share rose to 8p (7.2p). The interim dividend is 2.1p (1.83p).

Morland, the Oxfordshire brewing and pub group, lifted pre-tax profits to pounds 4m ( pounds 3.6m) due to the success of its own-brand ales. Overall, turnover rose 12 per cent to pounds 26.6m ( pounds 23.7m). Earnings per share improved to 12.8p (11.9p). Interim dividend is 3.06p (2.78p).