British buy boosts Eason's profits

PROFITS at Eason and Son, the newsagents and bookseller, increased to €13.7 million, thanks to the acquisition of a 50-strong chain of bookshops in Britain, its latest accounts show.

Eason, one of the country's oldest companies, acquired British Bookshops & Stationers plc towards the end of 2003, its first takeover outside of Ireland.

Turnover for the year to January 25, 2004 was €380.5m, up on the previous year's tally of €372.3m. However, excluding €9m in revenue from acquisitions, turnover from its continuing operations was down slightly at €371m.