Melrose still looking to engineer a deal

Engineering firm Melrose yesterday said it was still on the look-out for acquisitions following its failed bid for Charter International, owner of Renfrew-based Howden, in the summer.

Sales in the third quarter of 2011 were 12 per cent higher than a year earlier and it will enter 2012 with a strong order book, Melrose told investors.

It added: “Although the economic situation has deteriorated over the past three months and remains highly uncertain, trading in our businesses remains broadly unaffected.”