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Top story
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Sharp yes, Thompson no on shared stadium
Liverpool’s two Premier League football clubs appear to be no nearer to accepting the idea of a shared stadium idea. Speaking at a Legends Luncheon event organised by NW Corporate at the city’s Crowne Plaza hotel yesterday, Graeme Sharp and Phil Thompson, playing legends and former club officials with Everton and Liverpool respectively, clashed over the idea. Sharp said: “Common sense says you have to look at it, although it probably makes more sense from Everton’s view than Liverpool’s. But with the financial crisis as it is, why not?” Thompson replied: “There’s too much history and passion associated with football clubs - you’ll just get morons attacking the statues of the other club’s legends.” To which Sharp said: “You’ve got to trust in people to do the right thing.”
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Today's news
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Sales growth for Coral
Haydock-based Coral Products, the CD and DVD case manufacturer chaired by Geoffrey Piper, has released interim results for the six months to 31 October that reveal turnover up to £7.78m from £7.06m for the same period last year and gross profit of £2.29m. Despite being hit by high raw material and power prices at the start of the year, the recent fall in oil prices has meant improvements in margins. Overall sales have increased by 10 per cent. Piper said: “We have continued to diversify into areas other than media products and, whilst progress has been slower than we would have wished, we have developed a number of new products, with more planned for next year. We are now seeing a better future for the business, although, in the short term, the current economic climate and conditions may impact on our progress.” 
Rippleffect delivers for O2
Liverpool digital agency Rippleffect has created a new website for the O2 Dublin Arena as Ireland’s leading entertainment venue looks to build online loyalty and brand awareness. Rippleffect has developed a revenue-generating site that encourages users to book tickets online, improves data collection and provides a good platform for email marketing. It also promotes the new-look venue and brand, as well as sponsorship opportunities. Rippleffect’s venue portfolio also includes the MEN Arena.
DfT to be asked for £270m for Merseytram
The Department for Transport (DfT) will be asked to provide £270m towards Line One of Merseytram, which will link key sites in central Liverpool and run out to Kirkby. The DfT has already turned down a bid for £170m. The leaders and chief executives of Merseyside councils will meet next week to discuss the plans, which will cost more than £400m.
Hill Dicks has a good air day
North West law firm Hill Dickinson has secured a contract to provide legal services for business, special-mission and trainer aircraft manufacturer Hawker Beechcraft. The business, headquartered in Wichita, Kansas, has UK bases in Chester and Oxford and will receive corporate, commercial, property, employment, insurance and intellectual property advice from Hill Dickinson.
New Manchester head for Bibby
Liverpool-headquartered Bibby Financial Services has appointed Nick Kindon as head of operations in Manchester. The company says the move will strengthen the invoice and asset-based financier’s national presence and give support to businesses seeking alternative financial solutions throughout Manchester. Kindon’s previous roles include division manager for the north at HSBC Invoice Finance.
BASF swoops on pest business
Global chemicals giant BASF is set to acquire Widnes-based pest control business Sorex Holdings. The deal involves US-based Whitmire Micro-Gen and the UK business, Sorex, which will give BASF an increased presence in the two most important pest control markets worldwide - the US and Europe. The Sorex group as a whole has a strong reputation in the general insect control segment and expertise in the area of rodenticides with 200 employees and recorded net sales of €72m in 2007.
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Something for the weekend
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Deal of the week
It’s been a quiet week for deals in Merseyside, although Alliance Fund Managers again delivered, this time for Rowilco Fuels. But this week’s deal of the week took place in the furthest reaches of the region, Runcorn. ACAL Energy raised £3.3m to further develop its fuel cell systems. Led by CT Investment Partners, existing venture capital investors Rising Stars Growth Fund, NorthStar Equity Investors, Porton Capital and Synergis Technologies have been joined by Solvay and an unnamed Japanese investor to complete the deal. The funds will be used to take the company to the next stage of development of its low-cost fuel cell systems, based on its novel platinum-free cathode technology FlowCath.
Superlambanana news
For Superlambanana fans everywhere there’s a new book out from Cities500 – cunningly entitled Go Superlambananas: The Book – which, says the brief, “captures the creativity, humour and excitement that swept the city” when Superlambananas took over Liverpool this year. And, if that’s not enough, you can also keep an eye out around town this month for Superlambananas that have donned santa hats to keep in with the festive spirit. Two have been spotted already in St Paul’s Square.
Gonna make you a Starr
“We started the Culture year with Ringo Starr singing on top of the St George’s Hall, which was great. But after what he’s said about Liverpool since, we probably wouldn’t spend so much on the safety net if he came back.” Lord Mayor of Liverpool Steve Rotheram reflects on 2008 at the Crowne Plaza yesterday.
Special agents
Thought that estate agents had all gone to ground? Thought wrong. Wirral-based Karl Tatler Estate Agents romped home at the Estate Agents of the Year awards, picking up the Best Estate Agency in the UK title, while its residential lettings division collected the gold award for Best Small Lettings Agency. Well done to Karl Tatler, and also to whoever wrote the press release and resisted the urge to use the always-dubious phrase “the awards, known as the Oscars of the industry…”
“Why do we bother” quote of the week
“If we finally achieve what we have been fighting for it will not be a victory.” Edge Lane campaigner Elizabeth Pascoe on the latest legal challenge to the demolition and dual carriageway plans, now heading towards £25m thanks in part to the endless legal toing and froing. It’s not like the Department for Transport has anything else to spend its cash on, of course. Pascoe added: “The whole thing stinks.” Correct.
Art of the matter
Grosvenor’s flagship residential building at Liverpool One, One Park West, is due to open ahead of schedule before Christmas. So the development’s ever-resourceful marketing team has set local children from St Vincent de Paul Catholic Primary School the unenviable task of having to try and draw the angularly-challenged development for an art competition. Deputy head teacher Eithne Proffitt said: “The children are already organising trips to Chavasse Park so they can see One Park West from every angle”.
Canapé won’t pay
Hats off to Hill Dickinson for the fabulous canapés they provided at St Paul’s Square for our 42 under 42 event on Wednesday night. We’re not sure what they all were, but they were very tasty and washed down with lovely fizzy pop. And you can’t go wrong with what seemed to be mini Christmas cakes with chocolate icing and mini pies that may have been apple, but some say were pear.
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Telephone: +44 (0)161 907 9711
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