Company News in Brief

Apollo Metals is paying pounds 8.55m to buy Aviation Metals, the UK's largest supplier of specialised steels for aerospace and defence. Apollo is also raising pounds 7.8m via a three-for- five rights issue at 77p.

Gieves Group, the retailer, book and magazine publisher, reported taxable profits of pounds 518,000 in the six months to 31 July, down from pounds 837,000. Earnings per share were 1.5p, against 5.4p. Dividend is 0.5p.

Bourne End Properties made taxable profits of pounds 231,000 in the first half of 1994, against a loss of pounds 145,000 in the comparable period.

Earnings per share were 0.42p (loss 1.25p). Dividend is 0.5p.

Bridport-Gundry, maker of netting, made pounds 753,000 ( pounds 162,000) pre-tax in year to 31 July. EPS 6.72p (1.5p). Total dividend is 3p (2.5p).

DY Davies cut losses from pounds 793,000 to pounds 56,000 in the year to 30 April. Loss per share was 0.9p, down from 11.5p.