Scottish Business Briefing – September 6th 2012
FOOD, DRINK & AGRICULTURE
Irn-Bru maker AG Barr starts talks with Britvic over £1.4bn merger
IRN-BRU owner AG Barr has approached rival Britvic over a possible £1.4 billion merger that could create one of Europe’s largest soft drinks companies.
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M&S Bank to open two more Scots branches
M&S Bank chiefs hope to open a further two branches in Scotland before the end of the year. The first Scottish outlet opened at the Marks & Spencer Gyle store in Edinburgh last month, with Glasgow’s Argyle Street following yesterday.
ENERGY & UTILITIES
BP unveils new technology to boost oil production
BP has announced it is introducing new technology which will significantly boost the amount of oil it can extract. It will be used for the first time offshore in the £4.5bn Clair Ridge development west of Shetland.
INDUSTRY
F1 hi-tech wheelchair wins funding from Scottish Investment Bank
A WHEELCHAIR designer who uses Formula 1 racing car technology in his products has secured £350,000 of funding from Highland Venture Capital and the Scottish Investment Bank to launch his carbon fibre chair.
MEDIA & LEISURE
SECC books £30m loss as building work continues on Scottish Hydro
THE company that runs Glasgow’s iconic Armadillo venue will post a loss of nearly £30 million following complex arrangements to finance construction of the Scottish Hydro music arena, which opens next September.
RETAIL
Morrisons sales and profits hit by consumer ‘fragility’
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Hide AdSupermarket chain Morrisons has reported a dip in sales and profits, blaming the continued pressures on consumer spending. Pre-tax profits for the six months to 29 July were £440m, down £9m on the period last year.