Company News in Brief

Bentalls, the department stores operator and property developer, turned a pounds 986,000 loss into pounds 1.7m profit for the year to 31 December, helped by increased advertising and an extra 3,000 car park spaces for Christmas shoppers at Lakeside in Essex. Sales were up 11.3 per cent at pounds 78.9m. EPS 2.25p (LPS 0.28p). Total dividend is 2p (1.9p).

Dencora, the East Anglian property group, said that although the company sold 192 houses during the year to December compared with 149 in 1992 it had been disappointed by flat selling prices. Profits of pounds 1.6m, compared with a pounds 984,000 loss in 1992, reflected higher returns from commercial investment, property trading and the housebuilding subsidiaries. EPS 3.7p (LPS 7.4p). Total dividend is 3.3p (3p).

OEM, the property developer that changed its name on 1 April from Office and Electronic Machines, fell from pounds 94,000 pre-tax profit to pounds 92,000 taxable loss in the six months to 30 December. LPS 0.6p (EPS 1.5p). No dividend.

William Jacks, the vehicle leasing and motor distributor, reversed from pounds 514,000 taxable loss to pounds 383,000 pre-tax profit for the year to 31 December as group turnover was driven 34.7 per cent higher to pounds 52.4m ( pounds 38.9m). EPS 1.44p (LPS 6.37p). No dividend.

IFG Group, provider of financial services, increased pre-tax profits from Ir pounds 528,000 to Ir pounds 732,000 for the year ended 31 December. EPS 1.35p (0.92p). Dividend is Ir0.3p.