Company News in Brief

Interim results to 30 June

Independent Newspapers, the Dublin-based newspaper group that owns 29 per cent of this newspaper, made taxable profits of Ir pounds 15.2m, up from Ir pounds 14.6m. Earnings per share (EPS) were 9p (10.2p). Dividend is 3p (2.7p).

Rathbone, the banking and financial services group, made taxable profits of pounds 3.1m ( pounds 2.5m). EPS 10.5p (8.98p). Interim dividend 3p (2p).

Quarto, the publisher, made pre- tax profits of pounds 1.67m ( pounds 1.63m). EPS 4.8p (6.4p). Interim dividend 2p (same).

English & Overseas, the property company, made profits before tax of pounds 353,000 ( pounds 12,000). EPS 0.55p (0.05p). It has paid an interim dividend of 0.3p - its first since 1991.

Barr & Wallace Arnold, motor distributor and holiday company, made pre-tax profits of pounds 928,000 ( pounds 663,000). EPS 4.8p (3.5p). Interim dividend 3p (same).

United Carriers, parcel and freight distributor, made taxable profits of pounds 1.2m ( pounds 1.6m). EPS 3p (4.4p). Interim payout 1.6p (nil).

British-Borneo, the exploration company, made pre-tax profits of pounds 5.6m ( pounds 3.4m). EPS 9.7p (6.5p). The dividend is 2.7p (same).

Michael Page, the recruitment group, made profits before tax of pounds 4.3m ( pounds 1.6m). EPS 4.45p (1.65p). The dividend is 0.8p (0.6p).

Cattle's Holdings, the finance house, made pre-tax profits of pounds 6.7m ( pounds 6.9m). EPS 3.7p (4.3p). Dividend 2.15p (1.9p).