Company News in Brief

Faber Prest, the industrial distributor, increased pre-tax profits to pounds 4.8m ( pounds 3.1m) in the year to 30 September on turnover of pounds 66.1m ( pounds 76.7m). Final dividend is 7.7p, making 12p (8.6p).

Rolfe & Nolan Computer Services advanced to pounds 707,000 ( pounds 704,000) pre-tax profit for the six months to 31 August. Dividend 2.55p (2.3p).

Vega Group, provider of technical services to the space industry, achieved pounds 631,000 ( pounds 517,000) pre- tax profit in the six months to 31 October. Dividend is 0.87p.

Six months to 30 September

Acal, which markets eletronic products and industrial controls, eased to pounds 1.3m ( pounds 1.5m), but lifted the dividend from 1.95p to 2.1p.

Cranswick, the food maker, rose to pounds 968,000 ( pounds 659,000) pre-tax profit. Dividend is 2.4p (2.3p).

Cupid, maker of bridalwear, dived to pounds 168,000 taxable loss (profit pounds 93,000). No dividend.

Morris Ashby, the non-ferrous diecastings producer, advanced to pounds 639,000 ( pounds 481,000) pre-tax profit. Dividend is maintained at 1.7p.

Total Systems, the computer software and hardware supplier, improved pre-tax profits from pounds 351,000 to pounds 425,000. Interim dividend rose to 1.5p (0.75p).

Wellman, the engineering company, made pounds 321,000 ( pounds 344,000) pre-tax profit. Dividend is cut to 0.3p (0.8p).