Scottish Business Briefing - Wednesday 11 April, 2012
ECONOMICS
Tax-break plan to attract foreign firms
BUSINESSES in key sectors such as life sciences and renewables are being offered a £275,000 tax break if they set up shop in one of Scotland’s new enterprise areas – but the latest initiative drew criticism from indigenous firms concerned about being left out in favour of incomers (Scotsman).
FOOD, DRINK & AGRICULTURE
Lees directors in £5.6m bid to take firm back into private hands
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdSCOTLAND is poised to lose another of its listed companies after the directors of macaroon bar and snowball maker Lees Foods unveiled plans to take the company private (Scotsman).
INDUSTRY
AGM founder sets his sights on growth
A CONSTRUCTION and maintenance company is targeting further growth after reporting a 40% increase in turnover. Income has been boosted through a greater number of industrial unit refurbishments and by making inroads into other sectors (Herald).
Havelock to cut debt after £15.3m sale of Showcard
A PRINTING company that has carried out work for the likes of Caffè Nero, Estée Lauder and Reebok was yesterday sold for £15.3 million by its Dalgety Bay-based parent group (Scotsman).
Structural steel firm secures £3m financing for expansion
A STRUCTURAL steelwork company has sealed a £3 million finance agreement to help it expand. BHC plans to use some of the money provided by the line of credit from Royal Bank of Scotland and Lombard Asset Finance to buy two 80-tonne cranes (Herald).
MEDIA & LEISURE
Belladrum festival a huge Highlands money-spinner
The director of a Highland music festival said yesterday he was hoping for another sellout year for the multimillion-pound event. Joe Gibbs, founder of the Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival, said up to 15,000 people would descend on the Belladrum Estate later this year and are expected to spend nearly £3million in the Highlands (P&J).