Company News in Brief

Aerospace Engineering returned higher pre-tax profits of pounds 127,000 ( pounds 109,000) for the six months to 31 October based on almost half the turnover of pounds 7.7m ( pounds 13.6m). Operating costs included an pounds 85,000 charge for redundancies. The profit figure was helped by a 29 per cent reduction in borrowings at the half- year to pounds 5.9m ( pounds 8.3m) and the decision taken by the company at the end of 1992 to restructure and focus on aerospace components and printed circuit boards. Earnings per share slipped to 0.12p (0.19p) after the payment of pounds 40,000 for the first preference dividend. The interim dividend was maintained at 0.25p.

Chartwell Group, the carpet tiles producer and cubicle fabricator, ended the first half in the black with pounds 51,000 profit against pounds 137,000 taxable loss for the comparable period to 30 September. Loss per share was cut to 0.6p (1.5p).

Abtrust Scotland Investment Co's net asset value grew to 38p (34.3p) in the first half. Taxable revenue increased to pounds 378,000 ( pounds 11,000). No dividend.

Colorvision, the videos, televisions, satelite and cable systems retailer, recorded taxable losses of pounds 1.3m (profit pounds 153,000) in the six months to 30 September, on lower turnover of pounds 26m ( pounds 26.7m). Loss per share is 4.01p (EPS 0.5p). Interim dividend was maintained at 2.5p.

Northern Industrial Improvement Trust, the investment and property holding company, announced pre- tax profits of pounds 220,000 ( pounds 224,000) in the six months to 30 September. Earnings per share eased to 13.04p (13.18p). No dividend.