Company News in Brief

Year ended 31 December

Automated Security Holdings, the burglar alarm and closed circuit camera group, reported pre- tax profits of pounds 45.1m ( pounds 3.3m) in the year to November 1992. The figure was distorted by a pounds 32m profit from the disposal last July of its UK surveillance business. On a pro-forma basis, assuming the business was sold at the beginning of the year, pre-tax profits were pounds 20.2m. Final dividend is 3.05p, making 5.3p (4.9p).

Charles Baynes lifted pre-tax profits to pounds 5.6m ( pounds 4.5m). Final is 0.9p, making 1.43p (1.35p).

Cattles Holdings, financial services and insurance broker, increased pre-tax profits to pounds 12.4m ( pounds 9.8m). Final dividend is 2.6p, making 4.2p (3.6p).

Burford Holdings fell to pounds 52,000 ( pounds 698,000) pre-tax profit. Final dividend is 0.65p, making 1.15p (0.95p).

Commercial Bank of London fell to pounds 596,000 ( pounds 1.05m) pre-tax profit. Dividend is 35p.

Crestacare recovered from pounds 13.2m taxable loss to make pounds 1.5m pre-tax profit. Final dividend is 0.4p, making 0.5p (0.7p).

Davis Service, the textile maintenance and business services group, achieved pounds 17.5m ( pounds 14.5m) pre-tax profit. Final dividend is 5.25p, making 7.98p (same).

Edmond Holdings, the house builder, cut pre-tax losses to pounds 1.15m (loss pounds 1.7m). Total dividend fell to 0.5p (1.85p).

Evans Halshaw, the motor trader and hirer, fell to pounds 1.7m ( pounds 3.9m) pre-tax profit. Total dividend is held at 11.25p.

Quicks Group, which repairs and rents vehicles, doubled pre- tax profits to pounds 2.1m ( pounds 952,000). Total dividend is 4.5p (3p).

Rea Brothers, the private banker, boosted pre-tax profits to pounds 805,000 ( pounds 261,000). Total dividend is held at 0.5p.

Rotork, control and instrumentation equipment maker, rose to pounds 10.5m ( pounds 9.5m) pre-tax profit. Total dividend is 11.15p (10p).

Seafield Resources, the warehousing distribution and property company, announced sharply higher pre-tax profits of pounds 1.1m ( pounds 256,000). No divdiend.

Telemetrix, the electronics systems maker, more than doubled pre-tax profits to pounds 9.8m ( pounds 4.1m). Dividend is 0.8p (0.6p).

Vinten Group, the camera equipment maker, advanced to pounds 10.2m ( pounds 9.2m) pre-tax profit. Total dividend is 7p (6.6p).

Six months to 31 December

Ernest Green & Partners, the civil engineering consultancy group, reported lower pre-tax profits of pounds 302,000 ( pounds 468,000). Dividend is held at 2.75p.

Melville Group sharply reduced pre-tax losses to pounds 893,000 (loss pounds 10.9m). No dividend.

Other

Holders Technology, the tool importer, rose to pounds 394,000 ( pounds 380,000) pre-tax profit in the year to 30 November. Total dividend is held at 6p.