Company News in Brief

Verson International, the heavy machinery maker, reversed taxable losses of pounds 4.7m to make pre- tax profit of pounds 1.1m in the six months to 31 August. There is no dividend.

Regina, the health and beauty products concern, deepened pre- tax losses to pounds 1.2m (loss pounds 505,000) in the year to 30 August.

Six months to 30 September

JLI Group, the food processor and distributor, has revealed a 61 per cent rise in pre-tax profits to pounds 1.8m ( pounds 1.1m), helped by the expansion of its snack food division. Turnover rose to pounds 50.8m ( pounds 40m). Dividend is 1.55p (1.5p).

Asprey, the Bond Street jewellery retailer, achieved better pre-tax profits of pounds 11.2m ( pounds 10.9m). A 20 per cent rise in turnover to pounds 60.2m ( pounds 49.2m) reflected the acquisition in April of the Scottish jeweller Hamilton and Inches, and of Watches of Switzerland in June. The dividend is held at 1.1p.

Assoc Nursing Services boosted pre-tax profits from pounds 379,000 to pounds 725,000. No dividend.

Borthwicks improved pre-tax profits to pounds 1.3m ( pounds 932,000). Dividend held at 0.5p.

Crown Eyeglass lifted pre-tax profits to pounds 274,000 ( pounds 242,000). Dividend is raised to 2.5p (2p).

East Surrey Holdings, the water supply company, held pre-tax profits at pounds 2.9m. Dividend is lifted to 4.1p (3.56p).

European Colour, maker of chemical colours, saw pre-tax profits rise from pounds 26,000 to pounds 265,000. Dividend is 0.275p (0.25p).

Harris Holdings, scientific equipment supplier, drove pre-tax profits higher to pounds 806,000 ( pounds 624,000). Dividend is raised to 2.2p (2p).

Scott Pickford, provider of geological services, fell to pounds 103,000 ( pounds 190,000) pre-tax profit.

SW Wood, which resmelts aluminium, made pounds 425,000 pre- tax profit (loss pounds 154,000). Dividend is 0.5p.

Six months to 30 October

Vistec, the computer systems group, rose to pounds 1.3m ( pounds 1m) pre-tax profit. Dividend is 0.125p (0.1p).

EFM Income Trust's net asset value per share plunged to 37.7p (47.5p). Dividend is 2.4p.