Company News in Brief

Beradin Holdings, the palm oil crop plantation group, returned lower pre-tax profits of pounds 204,000 ( pounds 249,000) in the six months to 30 June.

During the second half, world palm oil prices increased sharply, Beradin said, adding that the palm oil market recently touched a nine-year high following a decline in stock levels and the imposition by Indonesia of a duty on its own palm oil exports.

Earnings per share slipped to 0.75p (0.9p). No dividend was declared.

Barry Wehmiller, the consumer packaging equipment maker, announced a decline in pre-tax profits from pounds 7.1m to pounds 5.1m for the year to 31 July.

It said it saw sales increase substantially in the second half, taking group turnover to pounds 82.1m, but was not enough to beat previous year's pounds 85.2m figure.

Earnings per share declined to 7.5p (11p), while a 4.3p final dividend maintained the total payout of 6.7p.

Dolphin Packaging, producer of plastic packaging, edged pre-tax profits ahead to pounds 1.15m ( pounds 1.13m) in the six months to 30 June, supported by slightly better sales of pounds 12.7m ( pounds 12.5m). Earnings per share were 3.47p (3.42p). Dividend is held at 1.7p.

Ex-Lands, the properties and leisure group, lifted pre-tax profits to pounds 1.3m ( pounds 914,000) for the year to 30 June. It benefited from a sharp increase in turnover from pounds 1.2m to pounds 5.1m. Earnings per share, however, slipped to 0.98p (1.06p). Total dividend is 0.42p (0.35p).

Helene, the textiles merchant, rose to pounds 1.3m ( pounds 970,000) pre-tax profit in the six months to 30 June on higher sales of pounds 51.8m ( pounds 45.9m). Earnings per share are 0.62p (0.56p). Dividend is held at 0.65p.

Plantation & General Investments, the tropical agricultural holding company, achieved higher pre-tax profits of pounds 971,000 ( pounds 808,000) in the six months to 30 June. Turnover dropped to pounds 21.7m ( pounds 25.1m). Earnings per share were held at 1.36p, but the dividend was lifted to 1p (0.75p).

Radamec Group, the electronics and mechanical engineers, advanced from pounds 35,000 to pounds 421,000 pre-tax profit in the six months to 30 June, despite a fall in turnover to pounds 5.2m ( pounds 5.9m). Earnings per share improved to 2.1p (1.8p). The dividend was raised to 0.7p (0.5p).