Friday business round-up: Five key stories of the day

Centrica is selling its stake in the Glens of Foudland wind farm

Scottish Gas owner Centrica sold its stake in an Aberdeenshire wind farm as part of a £423 million deal. The group, along with 50 per cent joint venture partner EIG Global Energy Partners, sold the 26 megawatt Glens of Foudland site near Huntly, along with two offshore wind farms in Lincolnshire, to a consortium comprising the UK Green Investment Bank Offshore Wind Fund and funds managed by BlackRock.

Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC) predicted a £6m boost for the local economy after securing two major clients. The Institute and Faculty of Actuaries is to hold its life conference and exhibition at the venue in November, while Airmic – the trade body for insurance and risk managers – confirmed a two-year deal for its June 2020 and June 2024 conferences.

Television presenter Alexa Chung teamed up with Marks & Spencer to launch a fashion collection inspired by the high street giant’s extensive archives. The 31-piece womenswear collection will be called Archive by Alexa and will launch in selected stores and online in April.

Oil and gas exploration firm BG Group guided the business back into the black despite continued pressure from tumbling oil prices. The company – which is in the final stages of a takeover by oil giant Shell – drove home a full-year pre-tax profit of $3 billion (£2bn) for 2015, turning around from a $2.3bn pre-tax loss the year before.

Standard Life Investments (SLI) named company veteran Euan Stirling as its new head of responsible investing. His appointment follows the announcement in October that Guy Jubb, SLI’s high-profile corporate governance champion, was retiring after more than three decades with the Standard Life group.