Company News in Brief

Senior Engineering Group has sold Senior Entex, a spring maker that was part of the engineered products division, to Kato Precision (UK) for pounds 1.86m cash.

Ryan Hotels, the hotel operator, increased pre-tax profits tenfold to Ir pounds 526,000 (Ir pounds 51,000) in the six months to 31 July. Turnover edged ahead to Ir pounds 11.3m (Ir pounds 11m). Earnings per share were 0.55p (0.14p). The interim dividend is held at 0.5p.

Year to 30 June

Essex Furniture, the furniture maker and retailer, reported higher pre-tax profits of pounds 1.1m (pounds 727,000). Turnover rose to pounds 10.7m (pounds 7.15m). Earnings per share were 6.24p (5.03p). Final dividend is 2p, making 3.5p.

Premier Health, formerly Acsis Group, deepened pre-tax losses to pounds 1.2m (pounds 285,000) as turnover fell from pounds 8.6m to pounds 6.4m. Loss per share worsened to 0.4p (0.04p). There is no dividend.

Tay Homes, the residential property builder and trader, made pounds 3.1m (pounds 4.8m) pre-tax profit. Turnover fell to pounds 69.6m (pounds 72.4m). Earnings per share were 9.5p (13.6p). Final dividend is 4.65p, making a total unchanged at 5.85p.

Half-year to 30 June

Cooper Clarke, the building materials group, almost doubled pre-tax profits to pounds 204,000 (pounds 125,000). Sales rose to pounds 15m (pounds 11.3m). Earnings per share were 3.6p (2.2p). No dividend.

Frank G Gates, the motor trade distributor, boosted pre-tax profits to pounds 1.15m (pounds 216,000). Turnover improved to pounds 34.65m (pounds 25.8m). Earnings per share were 3.6p (0.68p). No dividend.