Heineken ready to up the ante in battle for Tiger
HEINEKEN is considering raising its offer for Asia Pacific Breweries (APB) as it fights off one of Thailand’s richest men for full control of the maker of Tiger beer.Sources said the Dutch brewer was...
View ArticleExplosive growth for Chemring
SHARES in military equipment maker Chemring soared yesterday after it said it had received a preliminary expression of interest from private equity firm Carlyle Group.Chemring, which has a major...
View ArticleHibu appeals to its lenders
Yellow Pages publisher Hibu, formerly Yell Group, said it had asked its lenders for waivers on some debt conditions as it works to restructure its debt. Hibu said last month it had asked lenders to...
View ArticleMinoan raises £1.3m to fund its plans for growing travel empire
PROPERTY and leisure firm Minoan has raised £1.3 million on the stock market to fund its ongoing plans to build a travel empire by buying smaller rivals.The Aim-quoted group, originally set up to...
View ArticleLandlords may pull the plug on plans to slash Travelodge’s costs
LANDLORDS are expected to revolt against plans by the billionaire owners of Travelodge to slash the budget hotel chain’s costs.A rescue package proposed by the company’s owners – two Manhattan-based...
View ArticleScottish Life owner hit by low interest rates as profit falls by 25%
LOW interest rates and difficult economic conditions took their toll on Scottish Life-owner Royal London in the first half of the year.The company, the UK’s biggest mutually-owned life and pensions...
View ArticleFruit growers facing a crisis
For the second year in a row, Scottish soft fruit growers have taken a pounding from the weather, with losses estimated to run into millions of pounds. This week Mid-Scotland and Fife MSP Murdo Fraser...
View ArticleFarming: Fears grow for Scottish cereal crops
Scottish cereal growers are entering a critical period with a vast improvement needed in the weather to prevent the 2012 harvest turning into a disaster.So far, with crops ripening about two weeks...
View ArticleKaren Scott out to make world smaller in new job at OilCareers.com
MARKETEER Karen Scott has made a flying start to her new job at OilCareers.com, clocking up more than 29,000 miles in 23 days on a whirlwind tour of the firm’s global offices.Since becoming head of...
View ArticleYoung Scots jobless feel pressure of slowdown in recruitment
ALMOST three-quarters of young people in Scotland claim that life is harder than ever for the young unemployed, according to a new report, as another reveals that a slowdown in the recruitment sector...
View ArticleOne to watch: Jean-Claude Juncker
The Eurogroup president will need all his diplomatic skills later this week as he oversees the latest dialogue between the EU’s poorest and richest countries.Greek prime minister Antonis Samaras will...
View ArticleFranchise bids and renewals become statement of intent from FirstGroup
FIRSTGROUP is pursuing bids for three more UK rail franchises this year after scooping the West Coast service from Virgin.The Aberdeen-based transport giant is bidding again for the Great Western and...
View ArticleBusiness news in brief: Iceland | Patrick Ricard | White Stuff | Virgin Money
INVESTORS in women’s fashion chain Whistles have bought out most of the stake owned by the Icelandic government, which ended up owning the brand following the country’s banking collapse.Iceland’s...
View ArticleUS spotlight on Deutsche Bank’s possible links with Iran
US PROSECUTORS are investigating Deutsche Bank – among other lenders – over business linked to Iran, Sudan and nations currently under international sanctions, according to reports over the weekend.It...
View ArticleDiageo may slam down tequila bid
WHISKY giant Diageo is thought to be lining up the lime and salt as it prepares a bid for tequila maker Jose Cuervo.Chief executive Paul Walsh could announce the acquisition – estimated to be in the $3...
View ArticleSetback for commercial property in Scotland
COMMERCIAL property investors in Scotland faced more gloom as returns moved into negative territory for the first time since the depths of the 2009 property bust, a new report has revealed.The second...
View ArticleUK retailers want new visa strategy for Chinese visitors
Retailers are lobbying the UK government to adopt a plan to help more Chinese shoppers to spend their money on British high streets.The current rules mean visitors from countries such as China need...
View ArticleTesco tight-lipped about status of bank’s IT chief
THE status of one of Tesco Bank’s most senior directors remained clouded yesterday after claims emerged he has left the company.Shaun Doherty, IT and operations director, has been a key lieutenant to...
View ArticlePlatinum miner Lonmin denies emergency call for fundraiser
PLATINUM miner Lonmin is said to be considering a $1 billion (£640 million) emergency fundraising move to recoup losses following the closure of its South African mine where unrest claimed the lives of...
View ArticleThe Week Ahead: Housebuilders capitalise on strong foundations
Two of the nation’s biggest housebuilders are set to report strong half-year results as they benefit from building more family homes and capitalising on land bought cheaply following the financial...
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