Company News in Brief

A&C Black achieved pounds 310,000 ( pounds 244,000) pre-tax profit in half- year to 30 June. EPS 13.9p (10.6p). Dividend held at 4.25p.

N Brown Group posted pre-tax profits of pounds 10.8m ( pounds 9m) in six months to 31 August. EPS 4.97p (4.15p). Dividend 1.35p (1.125p).

Thorntons showed a pre-tax profit of pounds 12.12m ( pounds 4.8m loss) in year to 25 June. EPS 12.19p (LPS 11.94p). Dividend is 3.45p (2.4p).

Wescol Group hoisted pre-tax profits to pounds 260,000 ( pounds 30,000) for the year to 31 July. EPS 1p (0.4p). Dividend is 0.25p.

Year to 30 June

A Beckman pre-tax profits fell to pounds 403,000 ( pounds 709,000). EPS 2p (4.7p). Total dividend 3.58p.

Lendu Holdings incurred pounds 87,000 taxable loss (profit pounds 1.15m). Total dividend 0.25p (0.5p).

William Sinclair lifted pre-tax profits to pounds 4.2m ( pounds 3.8m). EPS 13p (12.2p). Total dividend 7.15p (7p).

Six months to 31 July

AF Bulgin advanced to pounds 497,000 ( pounds 280,000) pre-tax profit. EPS 1.26p (1p). No dividend.

Welpac deepened taxable losses to pounds 1.25m ( pounds 138,000). LPS 3.5p (0.5p).