HEPWORTH SELLS U.S. UNIT TO GLOBE MACHINE Hepworth Ceramic Holdings Plc <HEPC.L> said it had agreed to sell its <Western Plastics Corp> unit to <Globe Machine Manufacturing Co> for 16.25 mln dlrs cash. Western, which makes polystyrene foam and container products, has net assets of 19.3 mln dlrs and reported a 1986 pre-tax profit of 0.9 mln. The proceeds of the sale would be used to reduce borrowings and develop activities in the U.K. Hepworth shares eased 0.5p on the announcement to 227.5p.