20 APRIL 1934, Page 38

A STEADY INDUSTRY.

The profits of Bryant and May exhibit great steadiness, and the figures for the financial year ending March 31st last show- merely a trifling set-back from the wonderful figures of the previous year, the total being £561,722, against £566,706 a year ago. These results are after charging Debenture interest. Once again the handsome dividend is declared of 25 per cent., free of tax, from the ordinary profits, though in the previous year there was a special dividend of 11 4/11ths per cent. paid from profits realized on the sale of investments. It should be noted that the Company is controlled by the British Match Corporation and the special dividend of the previous year just referred to went to increase the reserves of the British Match Corporation. The sum of £100,000 has again been added to the Reserve Fund of Bryant and May, raising it to £750,000. Moreover, this increase is accompanied by an advance of approximately the same amount in the Com- pany's holding of British Government securities.