Company News in Brief

Year ended 31 December

Avonside, the housebuilding services group, increased pre-tax profits to pounds 5.5m ( pounds 4.55m). EPS 8.54p (7.08p). Total dividend 4.2p (4p).

BPP Holdings, the training group, reported a slight fall in pre-tax profits from pounds 6.7m to pounds 6.3m. EPS 13.2p (14.5p). Total dividend 8.8p (8p).

Crestacare, the health care services company, recovered strongly from pounds 1.6m taxable loss to pounds 341,000 pre- tax profit. LPS cut from 1.9p to 0.2p. Total dividend 0.75p (0.5p).

Doeflex, maker of PVC granules and thermoplastic sheets, returned lower pre-tax profits of pounds 1.2m ( pounds 1.5m). EPS 8.8p (12.3p). Total dividend is held at 4.6p.

EW Fact, which provides accountancy tuition courses, increased pre- tax profits 57 per cent to pounds 1.35m ( pounds 862,000). EPS 13.2p (7.44p). Total dividend is 4.74p (4.31p).

Fired Earth Tiles incurred pounds 423,000 taxable loss (profit pounds 23,000) on sales of pounds 4.8m ( pounds 5m). LPS 7p (EPS 0.2p). No dividend.

Hibernian Group, the insurer, boosted pre-tax profits to Ir pounds 47.4m (Ir pounds 5.65m). EPS Ir59.7p (6.7p). Total dividend is Ir7p (6.2p).

Six months to 31 December

Tay Homes lifted pre-tax profits to pounds 1.2m ( pounds 1m). EPS 3.63p (3.04p). Dividend is 1.35p (1.2p).

Trafford Park Estates announced higher pre-tax profits of pounds 2.4m ( pounds 1.7m). EPS 2.41p (1.72p). Dividend is 0.95p (0.85p).