Company News in Brief

Half year to 30 June

Charles Baynes, the engineer, fell to pounds 1.9m (pounds 3m) pre-tax profit. Dividend is raised to 0.525p (0.5p).

Bemrose Corporation, the printing products group, rose to pounds 1.85m (pounds 1.6m) pre-tax profit. Dividend is held at 4.3p.

W Canning, the chemicals and electronic components group, slipped to pounds 3m (pounds 3.1m) pre-tax profit. Dividend is held at 2.94p.

Davis Service achieved pounds 8m (pounds 7.1m) pre-tax profit. Dividend is held at 2.73p.

EBC Group, which provides management services to construction companies, fell to pounds 535,000 (pounds 1.3m) pre-tax profit. Dividend is cut to 1.75p (3.5p).

Eadie Holdings, the engineer, made pre-tax profits of pounds 85,000 (loss pounds 354,000). No dividend.

Folkes Group fell to pounds 650,000 (pounds 850,000) pre-tax profit. Dividend is held at 0.575p.

Goal Petroleum lifted profit income to pounds 3.9m (pounds 3.7m).

MTL Instruments eased to pounds 2.2m (pounds 2.4m) pre-tax profit. Interim dividend is 1.6p (1.5p).

Magnolia Group slumped to pounds 52,000 (pounds 273,000) pre-tax profit.

Mayborn Group rose to pounds 1.7m (pounds 1.3m) pre-tax profit. Dividend is 1.6p (1.4p).

Oliver Group, the footwear retailer, reduced pre-tax losses from pounds 5.2m to pounds 4.9m.

Sanderson Murray & Elder, the motor dealer, fell to pounds 633,000 (pounds 765,000) pre-tax profit despite an 87.9 per cent rise in sales to pounds 51.1m. Dividend is held at 0.6p.

Spandex, which specialises in computer-aided sign-making equipment, rose to pounds 2.2m (pounds 2.15m) pre-tax profit. Dividend is held at 1.9p.

Wassall, the metal and plastic tops maker, doubled pre-tax profits to pounds 6.2m (pounds 3.1m). Dividend is improved to 0.8p (0.67p).

Premier Consolidated Oilfields boosted net profits to pounds 7.3m (pounds 4.9m). No dividend.

Year ended June

Minorco, the mining company, lifted pre-tax profits to dollars 253.4m (pounds 243.8m). Final dividend is 54 cents (51 cents).

Polypipe advanced to pounds 15.4m (pounds 13.9m) pre-tax profit. Final is 1.34p, making 1.97p (1.875p).

Dowding & Mills, which provides electrical and mechanical services, fell to pounds 6.5m (pounds 8.4m) pre-tax. Final is 1.58p, making 2.5p (2.4p).

Gabicci fell to pounds 524,000 (pounds 1.4m) pre-tax profit. Final dividend is 0.6p, making 2p (4.25p).

Ernest Green & Partners, the civil engineer, slashed pre-tax profits to pounds 458,000 (pounds 2.15m). Final is 4.25p, making 7p (same).

Others

Campari International, the sportwear supplier, fell to pounds 1m (pounds 1.5m) pre-tax profit in half year to 31 May. Dividend is 3.25p (3p).

Bentalls, department store operator, made pre-tax loss of pounds 1.05m (profit pounds 207,000) in half to 31 July

Frank Usher Holdings, the dressmaker, rose to pounds 1.1m (pounds 775,000) pre-tax profit in year to 31 May. Final is 3p, making 5p (4p).