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Top story
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Alexander outlines growth fund priorities
Businesses and organisations will be encouraged to submit ‘programme bids’ to the second round of the £1.4bn Regional Growth Fund, the chief secretary to the Treasury has told Insider. Danny Alexander revealed that bids could take the form of a loan fund for small companies in the region.
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Deals
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Royal Liver signs merger agreement
Liverpool mutual insurer Royal Liver has signed a transfer agreement which will pave the way for its takeover by Royal London.
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Brabners to merge with property law firm
North West law firm Brabners Chaffe Street has agreed terms to merge with specialist Liverpool property law practice Murphy Hodgkinson. The merger will become effective from 1 May.
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Douglass Grange bought by management team
Blackburn-based accountancy firm Douglass Grange has undergone a management buyout after securing financing from Yorkshire Bank.
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Business
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Cowgill hails JD performance but warns on outlook
Sportswear retailer JD Sports Fashion has this morning reported a sharp rise in sales and profits despite the “multiple economic pressures” facing the business. But the Bury-headquartered company warned that it was “extremely cautious” in its outlook.
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Oliver Valves sets £50m target
Delays to several major overseas oil and gas projects have hit sales at Cheshire engineering group Oliver Valves. But the business said it is on track to reach revenues of £50m in the current financial year following increased demand in overseas markets.
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Chris Sheffield to run BetFred.com
Technology and gaming entrepreneur Chris Sheffield is to run the offshore digital business of North West bookmaker BetFred. The former owner of mobile gaming site Million to -1 will be based in Gibraltar and will report directly to Fred Done, the founder of the business who Sheffield described as his "hero".
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Insider breakfast – the green deal
Businesses with a green agenda can look forward to a brighter future and it does not have to cost the earth. That was the message from Insider’s sustainability breakfast, held at the Metro Building in Salford Quays.
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Gain new business contacts…
Insider’s North West Top 500 2011 database is our accurate and comprehensive business marketing list, providing you with the strongest contacts for the region’s biggest companies. Order now and receive a 30 per cent discount or request a free sample now (offer expires 30 June).
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Property
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No short-term fix for housebuilding, warns JLL
There is no short-term recovery in sight for the UK housing market following the worst year for new build completions since 1923. That’s the view of Ian Thomlinson, director of residential and development at Jones Lang LaSalle.
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Kutchenhaus expands at Kings Park
Kutchenhaus, the German kitchen manufacturer, has agreed to a ten-year lease on a 11,000 sq ft unit at Kings Park in Manchester.
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Oddfellows fund buys Focus store from Valad
Cheetham & Mortimer, the Manchester retail and leisure property consultancy, has sold the freehold of a retail warehouse unit in Belper, Derbyshire, on behalf of international investment management firm Valad.
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Other News
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More businesses facing financial distress, says Begbies
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Palatine backs Hallmark acquisition
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Clough & Willis launches recruitment service
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Investor buys Old Trafford site in LPA deal
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