Company News in Brief

Year to 30 June

Bennett & Fountain, the troubled electrical goods wholesaler and retailer which is subject to a pounds 2.1m takeover bid from the privately owned electrical distributor Marlowe Holdings, has announced lower taxable losses of pounds 5.9m ( pounds 8m). The results were affected by a high level of provisions against bad debts, which increased in the second half of the year. Since the year-end below-budget sales have led to further losses. LPS 5.6p (7.2p).

Castle Communications, the film, music and video group, lifted pre-tax profits to pounds 1.5m ( pounds 1.35m). EPS 15.1p (10.4p). Total dividend held at 8.5p.

Year to 31 July

Frederick Cooper, the specialist engineer, increased pre-tax profits to pounds 4.1m ( pounds 3.3m) on pounds 84.3m ( pounds 82.2m) turnover. EPS 3.4p (1.8p). Total dividend 2.2p (2p).

UDO Holdings fell to pounds 3.7m ( pounds 5.7m) pre-tax profit on pounds 48.4m ( pounds 51.7m) turnover. Earnings were 8.99p (13.66p). Total dividend 7.2p (6.7p).

Six months to 30 June

British & American Film Holdings moved pre-tax profits ahead to pounds 618,000 ( pounds 610,000). EPS 14.29p (16.67p). Dividend 4.275p (3.8p).

Havelock Europa achieved pounds 505,000 pre-tax profit (loss pounds 1.6m). EPS 1.9p (LPS 10p).

Six months to 31 July

Berry Birch & Noble slipped to pounds 460,000 ( pounds 519,000) pre-tax profit. EPS 5.3p (6.3p). Dividend 2.1p (2p).

Wensum Company, the clothes maker, made pounds 56,000 pre-tax profit (loss pounds 46,000) in the six months to 31 July. EPS 0.56p (LPS 0.56p). Dividend 0.625p (0.575p).

Others

Whinney Mackay-Lewis, the architect and land planner, deepened pre-tax losses from pounds 435,000 to pounds 950,000 in the year to 30 April. LPS 12.1p (5.1p). No dividend.

English National Investment Company is to pay a maintained dividend of 5p for the six months to 30 September.