Scottish Business Briefing - Tuesday 18 December, 2012
ECONOMICS
Closing courts ‘will add to pressure on troubled Scottish town centres’
Plans to close 11 sheriff courts throughout Scotland have been criticised for failing to take account of their impact on local traders, with business leaders warning that the move is at odds with Scottish Government plans to regenerate town centres (Scotsman).
ENERGY & UTILITIES
Profit warning rocks Aggreko
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Hide AdAGGREKO, Scotland’s fourth-largest listed company, saw more than £1.2 billion wiped off its stock market value yesterday after warning of a “double whammy” in the year ahead. The withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan and a lack of major events to replace income from the Olympics – along with weaker growth in emerging markets – are among the factors expected to hit 2013’s figures (Scotsman)
Dana gets go-ahead for $1.6bn North Sea project
Dana Petroleum has been given the green light to press ahead with a $1.6 billion (£988 million) project to develop two oil fields in the North Sea. The Aberdeen-based firm said the Department of Energy and Climate Change has approved the Western Isles project, which will develop two fields called Harris and Barra in the northern North Sea, about 100 miles east of the Shetlands and 7.5 miles west of the Tern field (Scotsman)
Talisman looks forward to exciting future in North Sea
Talisman Energy said yesterday it was looking forward to an exciting future in the North Sea after completing the £956million sale of nearly half its UK assets. Talisman said the deal with Chinese oil firm Sinopec had been approved by both the European Union and the Chinese government and had now been finalised (P&J).
INDUSTRY
Norbert Dentressangle unveils new Eurocentral site for luxury packing
LOGISTICS and freight firm Norbert Dentressangle has invested an undisclosed sum in a clean room for white glove-packing activities for luxury items in Scotland. The 6500 square feet facility at Eurocentral opened recently and was purpose-designed for premium products that need careful handling, such as high-end whisky (Herald).
TECHNOLOGY
Dundee and M-Squared set sights on smaller lasers
A TEAM of Scottish scientists and engineers has secured a share of £1.2 million in European Commission (EC) funding to make smaller and cheaper lasers. Glasgow-based technology outfit M-Squared Lasers and researchers at Dundee University’s photonics and nanoscience group will look at how findings from the university’s studies can make lasers more efficient (Scotsman).