Scottish Business Briefing – Tuesday 11 June, 2013

WELCOME to scotsman.com’s Scottish Business Briefing. Every morning we bring you a comprehensive round-up of all news affecting business in Scotland today.
Irn-Bru maker AG Barrs merger with Britvic has been given the all-clear. Picture: CompIrn-Bru maker AG Barrs merger with Britvic has been given the all-clear. Picture: Comp
Irn-Bru maker AG Barrs merger with Britvic has been given the all-clear. Picture: Comp

ENERGY & UTILITIES

Government plans review of North Sea oil industry

THE UK government has announced the biggest independent review of the North Sea oil and gas industry in its history, in a bid to unlock the potential of Britain’s remaining offshore reserves. The benchmark study is to be headed by Sir Ian Wood, the former head of the Aberdeen-based global energy giant the Wood Group (Scotsman).

BG rewards Amec’s record with £110m North Sea deal

Engineering and project-management firm Amec said yesterday it had signed a £110million contract extension with BG Group in the North Sea. Amec said the two-year agreement to support operations on BG’s three central North Sea platforms would secure 400 jobs offshore and in Aberdeen (P&J).

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FOOD, DRINK & AGRICULTURE

Competition Commission clears AG Barr’s merger with Britvic

Irn-Bru maker AG Barr’s merger with Britvic has been given the all-clear from the Competition Commission, which decided that the £1.4 billion deal would not lead to a “substantial lessening of competition”. In its provisional report into the tie-up, the watchdog said the two companies’ brands were not close competitors and the merger would not disadvantage smaller rivals from getting their products onto retailers’ shelves (Scotsman).

Distiller G&M set to double up single malt production

Moray whisky firm Gordon and MacPhail (G&M) said yesterday it would invest hundreds of thousands of pounds in its single malt to double production.G&M wants to ramp up output of Benromach, distilled at Forres, to help meet current and predicted demand for whisky around the world (P&J)

SCOTSMAN CONFERENCE

Defence Policy: Protecting Scotland & Preserving Jobs – 14 June, Edinburgh

Join delegates from the defence industry, legal, PR, academia and more at this hugely important conference. Top speakers will tackle the burning issues facing the defence industry, one of Scotland’s most economically significant sectors. Book your place today.

MANAGEMENT

Johnston Press launch recruitment service with STV

Johnston Press, owner of The Scotsman, Scotland on Sunday and Edinburgh Evening News, has launched a recruitment service in conjunction with broadcaster STV. The SmartList Scotland provides recruiters with a shortlist of pre-screened candidates for one fixed fee and aims to bridge the gap between traditional advertising and recruitment consultancies (Scotsman).

TRANSPORT

Chairman faces up to FirstGroup mistakes

OUTGOING FirstGroup chairman Martin Gilbert admitted mistakes had been made during the bus and rail group’s foray into the North American market but declared the Aberdeen-based company was in “fantastic shape” after 96.5% of investors backed a £615 million cash call (Herald).