Mailshot scare hits Goldshield

GOLDSHIELD'S American mailshots are suffering because the direct-to-consumer pharmaceuticals group sends them from Florida, New Jersey and Washington, the three areas at the centre of the US anthrax scare.

Goldshield will switch marketing to Europe for a while, said executive chairman Ajit Patel. He added that there was no problem in mailing the pharmaceuticals themselves to customers in the US because these go by parcel post - it is letters that have the Americans on edge.

Profits for the half-year to 30 September rose 34% to £7.3m, and Patel said growth from now on would be organic as well as by acquisition. Turnover was up 54% at £50m, earnings per share are 33% ahead at 12.5p, and the interim dividend is 32% higher at 1.45p a share.

Goldshield marked the opening of the second quarter by paying £9.4m for Antigen, an Irish outfit that makes sterile injectable medicines.