Company News in Brief

Year ended 31 December

TLS Range, the vehicle rental group, made a pre-tax loss of pounds 190,00 (pounds 259,000) on alsmost maintained sales of pounds 9.7m, and a loss per share of 0.98p (1.25p) reflecting last year's one-for-three rights issue. The final 0.25p payout was half that promised at the time of the cash call.

AAF Industries, modular building maker, lifted pre-tax profits to pounds 4.8m (pounds 4m). Earnings per share are 25.2p (21.4p). Total dividend maintained at 11p.

Boustead, the industrial products trading group, fell to pounds 49,000 pre-tax loss (profit pounds 886,000). Final dividend is 0.35p, making 0.7p (same).

John I Jacobs, the ship-owner and broker, incurred pounds 425,000 pre-tax loss (profit pounds 612,000). Loss per share is 2p (earnings 1.9p). Final dividend is 1.4p, making 1.9p (same).

Thomas Jourdan, the consumer products maker, deepened pre-tax losses from pounds 519,000 to pounds 780,000. Loss per share worsened to 4.35p (1.47p). Total dividend is halved to 0.75p (1.5p).

Whatman, filter products maker, increased pre-tax profits to pounds 10m (pounds 9.2m) on 26 per cent rise in turnover to pounds 62.6m. Earnings per share 29.08p (26.66p). Total dividend is 9.5p (8.7p).

World of Leather reported a fall in pre-tax profits to pounds 44,000 (pounds 115,000). Earnings per share are 0.1p (0.9p). No dividend.

Others

Baillie Gifford Japan, cut taxable losses from pounds 236,000 to pounds 30,000 in the six months to 28 February. Net asset value per share grew to 577p (436.9p).

MJ Gleeson, the civil engineers and property group, slipped to pounds 4.1m (pounds 5m) pre-tax profit in six months to 31 December. Earnings per share are 27.1p (32.6p). Dividend is held at 3.35p.

Prestwick Holdings, the electronics group, advanced to pounds 106,000 (pounds 81,000) pre-tax profit in six months to 31 January. Loss per share is cut to 0.02p (0.13p). Dividend is held at 0.5p.