N Brown gears up for US launch after sales rise

Manchester home shopping retailer N Brown is gearing up for an assault on the $34bn US ‘outsize clothing’ market by distributing more than 1 million catalogues for its Simply Be range to potential customers. The company said it hoped the move could help to drive sales in the second half of the year after posting a 3.2 per cent rise in revenue to £349.7m during the first six months.

Liverpool in High Court amid takeover twist

Lawyers for the Royal Bank of Scotland will today argue that Liverpool FC's owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett were in breach of contract by trying to sack board members ahead of a crunch meeting to approve a £300m sale of the club. The High Court case comes as Singapore billionaire Peter Lim has emerged as a potential takeover rival to US-owned New England Sports Ventures (NESV).

Ultimate buys Cheshire rival

AIM-listed Ultimate Finance has agreed a deal to buy rival firm Ashley Commercial Finance, based in Cheadle, for an initial fee of £4.75m in cash and shares.

Buyouts hit £13bn for year to date

UK buyouts have hit £13bn for the first nine months of 2010, according to data from the Centre for Management Buyout Research - more than double the total buyouts in the whole of 2009. Private equity has led the way, accounting for almost three quarters of UK merger and acquisition deal value for the first half of 2010.

Cheshire West pension deficit doubles

It cost Cheshire West & Chester Council £18.5m to carry out its voluntary redundancy programme, new figures show. The newly released 2009-10 statement of accounts also reports that the authority's pension fund deficit more than doubled from £300m to £604m.

Oldham Council confirms 800 jobs under threat

Oldham Council has confirmed that 800 jobs could be lost as part of cost-cutting measures. The council faces a £25m hole in its 2011/2012 budget.

Insider Membership Deals

Insider offers fantastic benefits for anyone doing business in the region. Not only do we give you news of what’s going on in the business world, we give you an analytical view into the biggest issues concerning all aspects of business. We provide you with avenues to explore competition and potential sales leads.

Burnley Council could axe 90 jobs

Burnley Council is preparing to make up to 90 job cuts, representing 15 per cent of its workforce. Officials have said there are "no easy choices" to balance the books.

Metric buys Congleton Retail Park

Metric Property Investments has conditionally bought Congleton Retail Park for £14.86m from Bluemantle. The deal, if it goes through, will complete in June 2011.

Morgan Sindall wins £18.5m Knowsley work

Morgan Sindall, the construction group, has secured an £18.5m contract with Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council to deliver a regeneration project in Stockbridge Village, Merseyside.

DWF confirms Spinningfields move

Law firm DWF has confirmed it is to take almost 83,000 sq ft of space at Spinningfields in Manchester city centre. The firm will occupy four floors at 2 Hardman Square, formerly the home of the Manchester Evening News.

In Focus: Last chance to vote

It’s not too late to get your nominations and votes to us for the 2010 Insider Dealmakers Awards.

Talking Point: What’s the story from the Blair Lite Tory?

Frank McKenna, founder of Downtown in Business, went to the Conservative Party conference last week... and was underwhelmed. Find out why.

Telephone:
+44 (0)161 907 9711

Email:
info@newsco.com

Website:
www.insidermedia.com/northwest/