Crystalate Holdings Plc of Tonbridge, Kent which is chaired by Lord Patrick Jenkin of Roding is slowly hauling itself back to profitability with pre-tax profits up 36% to UKP2.3m on turnover up 8% at UKP58m. The order books for Welwyn transistors, the MicroCircuit division, Welwyn Electronic Systems, and the automotive company Colvern all look good for the second half. However, the loss of a major US distributor in the automotive market, along with slow computer peripherals sales will put the brakes on any rapid recovery in the next six months. The market was unimpressed, marking the shares down ninepence to 132 pence by mid-session yesterday.
