Company News in Brief

Leeds Group, a yarn supplier that dyes and prints on textiles, showed higher pre-tax profits of pounds 7.2m ( pounds 5.5m) for the year to 30 September. In April this year Leeds acquired two Dutch textiles businesses. Turnover increased to pounds 47m ( pounds 41m). Earnings per share are 28.5p (22.1p). Final dividend is 5.75p, making 8.5p (7.33p).

Anglian Group, maker of replacement windows, doors and related products, saw pre-tax profits rise from pounds 12.2m to pounds 10.3m in the six months to 30 September. The group said orders were 15 per cent above previous years' levels, reflecting consumer confidence. Turnover was higher at pounds 84m ( pounds 71.4m). Earnings per share improved to 9.1p (8.5p). Interim dividend increased to 4.1p (3.7p).

Castings, the West Midlands- based iron castings supplier and foundries group, increased pre-tax profits from pounds 1.6m to pounds 2m in the six months to 30 September, despite increased costs of raw materials such as scrap steel. Turnover grew to pounds 18.3m ( pounds 16.3m). Earnings per share are 6.25p (5.05p). Interim dividend is 1.55p (1.3p). The company is to invest pounds 3m in a new moulding plant and electric melting facility, which it hopes will begin production in the third quarter of 1994.

Tinsley Robor, the printing and packaging group, turned around from pounds 132,000 taxable loss to pounds 12,000 pre-tax profit for the six months to 30 September. The company continued to incur losses at its label printing subsidiary, Howards Printers, and also expressed concern that the period of high activity that began in the second half of the year may have been shorter than usual. Turnover was ahead at pounds 13.1m ( pounds 12.3m). Earnings per share are 0.2p (LPS 0.4p). No dividend.

Wrexham & East Denbighshire Water Co, a supplier, lifted pre-tax profits to pounds 1.7m ( pounds 1.1m) in the six months to 30 September. Turnover improved from pounds 5.1m to pounds 5.5m. Earnings per share increased to 241p (181p), while the interim dividend was raised from 42.45p to 48.45p.