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Top story
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Birmingham wants millions more visitors
Birmingham is aiming to attract more than 37 million visitors per year by 2014. It has been selling itself as a tourism destination with a "lot of strengths and a cultural offering" to visiting Eastern Europeans. Emma Gray, at Marketing Birmingham, told Insider that the city hopes to increase the number of visitors by 5 per cent each year for three years as it aims to "capitalise on international visitors". Visit Birmingham hosted 22 international buyers from Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary who travelled around the West Midlands to find out what the region offers.
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Deals
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General Electric swoops in on £2bn Converteam
Engineering business Converteam, which has its UK base in Rugby and operations in Staffordshire, is at the centre of a £2bn takeover swoop by General Electric. A shareholder group, which owns 90 per cent of Converteam, has entered into an agreement with the energy business of General Electric.
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Uniline sold to Capital Safety
Worcestershire manufacturer Uniline Safety Systems has been sold to Capital Safety Group. Shakespeare Putsman's Birmingham office advised on the deal.
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PPF in £165.7m management buyout
Provimi Pet Food (PPF), which has a base in Lichfield, has undergone a €188m (£165.7m) management buyout by private equity firm Advent International. The Birmingham office of Clearwater Corporate Finance advised on the deal.
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Brian James up for sale
A buyer is being sought for Brian James Holdings after it was placed in administration. The Cannock-based furniture retailer, which trades as Brian James Furnishings, has already generated interest from potential purchasers, according to administrators at MCR.
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Carillion-Eaga deal moves forward
Wolverhampton-based Carillion has been given the green light to take over Eaga by the Newcastle-based company's shareholders. Construction giant Carillion first announced the £306m move last month.
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Property
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All go for Stafford College plans
Planners have given the green light for Stafford College to redevelop its campus in Earl Street, Stafford. The multimillion-pound scheme, designed by CPMG Architects, is to replace existing buildings and house a new learning resource centre, café, bistro, restaurant, IT department, beauty section and hospitality areas.
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BP pension fund in deep freeze deal
The investment arm of the BP pension fund has bought a 200,000 sq ft freezer and cold storage unit in the West Midlands. Ropemaker Properties snapped up the property for £15m.
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Business
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BID board named
Birmingham’s Southside Business Improvement District (BID) has announced its board of directors and BID manager ahead of its launch on Friday.
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Economy contracted less than expected
The UK’s economic growth contracted by 0.5 per cent in the last quarter of 2010. This has been revised from a fall of 0.6 per cent, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said.
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Insider Membership – Communicate with Midlands Top Companies
Looking to develop your business? Want to expand your commercial reach? Try a sample of our Midlands Top 500 Companies marketing data list. Insider membership provides its members with up to date local business data, editorial, advice, networking events. Request a free data sample and membership information today.
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Community
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Talking Point: Getting in the zone
RSM Tenon’s Carol Barrie defends the track record of Midlands enterprise zones, such as the one that created Merry Hill.
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In Focus: Access some areas
Andy Coyne discusses why work needs to be done to rebuild relationships between banks and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
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