Company News In Brief

Dakota Group, packaging products, manuals and promotional literature group, recovered from Ir pounds 2.3m taxable loss to Ir pounds 1.85m pre-tax profit for the year to 30 September, despite a drop in sales to Ir pounds 7.5m (Ir pounds 9.4m). Earnings per share are 2p (LPS 4p). There is no dividend.

Cantab Pharmaceuticals, the biopharmaceutical products research and development company that obtained a listing on the London Stock Exchange last month, has incurred a pounds 2m (pounds 825,000) taxable loss for the nine months to 30 September. One of its products for treating cervical cancer is currently undergoing clinical trials. Loss per share is 33p (16p). No dividend.

EFM Income Trust declared a second interim dividend of 1p (1.2p) for the six months to 31 October.

James Latham, the timber merchant, turned in a sharp rise in pre-tax profits from pounds 54,000 to pounds 598,000 in the six months to 30 September. Turnover increased to pounds 35m (pounds 20.9m). Earnings per share are 7.91p (0.29p). Interim dividend is held at 1.5p.

SEP Industrial Holdings, the engineering products manufacturer, increased pre-tax profits from pounds 830,000 to pounds 2.1m for the year to 30 September. Turnover was higher at pounds 37.7m (pounds 24m). Earnings per share are 2.8p (1.42p). Final dividend is 0.45p, making 0.8p (0.65p).

Tops Estates, the commercial property group, slipped from pounds 918,000 to pounds 825,000 in the six months to 30 September. Earnings per share are 1.41p (1.33p). Interim dividend is 0.61p (0.58p).