|
-
|
|
Top story
|
BAE wins £2bn ammunition contract
Global defence and aerospace company BAE Systems, whose Land Systems Munitions business operates from a site in Radway Green in Crewe, has agreed a £2bn deal with the Ministry of Defence to supply ammunition for the UK's armed forces. The 15-year agreement, known as Munitions Acquisition - the Supply Solution, will see BAE supply around 80 per cent of the general munitions needed for training and front-line operations. As a result, Radway Green will receive a £40m investment in new facilities to be built on the existing site and a new manufacturing plant that will provide a 50 per cent increase in capacity. Some 1,700 jobs across the UK will be directly sustained by the agreement, including 230 specialist munitions engineer posts.
|
JJB shares up as takeover speculation mounts
Shares in JJB Sports leapt 13 per cent yesterday amid speculation of a takeover at the Wigan-based retailer. The company's share price rose 15.25p to 132p following reports that chief executive Chris Ronnie and Icelandic financial services group Exista had approached other major shareholders with an offer to buy their shares for 150p each. The reports indicated that the shareholders approached, Legal & General and Harris Associates, would be willing to sell for an offer closer to 180p. Ronnie and Exista acquired 28.9 per cent of the equity from founder David Whelan in June 2007.
Shares in JJB Sports leapt 13 per cent yesterday amid speculation of a takeover at the Wigan-based retailer. The company's share price rose 15.25p to 132p following reports that chief executive Chris Ronnie and Icelandic financial services group Exista had approached other major shareholders with an offer to buy their shares for 150p each. The reports indicated that the shareholders approached, Legal & General and Harris Associates, would be willing to sell for an offer closer to 180p. Ronnie and Exista acquired 28.9 per cent of the equity from founder David Whelan in June 2007.
Cains pub closures begin as ownership story unfolds
Loss-making pubs owned by the Cains Beer Company are being closed by administrators at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) as they attempt to achieve a sale of some or all of the business and realise value for creditors. The closure programme started yesterday, but PwC is yet to reveal details of which of the 100-odd establishments are affected. Meanwhile, it has emerged that the Dusanj family, which acquired the Liverpool brewer and pub operator in 2002, still actually owns the freehold on the brewery and nine pubs through a separate company. This means that future owners would be paying rent to the family, but it has fuelled speculation that the Dusanj brothers may be one of over 50 parties interested in acquired the business.
Loss-making pubs owned by the Cains Beer Company are being closed by administrators at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) as they attempt to achieve a sale of some or all of the business and realise value for creditors. The closure programme started yesterday, but PwC is yet to reveal details of which of the 100-odd establishments are affected. Meanwhile, it has emerged that the Dusanj family, which acquired the Liverpool brewer and pub operator in 2002, still actually owns the freehold on the brewery and nine pubs through a separate company. This means that future owners would be paying rent to the family, but it has fuelled speculation that the Dusanj brothers may be one of over 50 parties interested in acquired the business.
|
New visitor centre for Stockport brewer
Family brewer Robinsons has unveiled plans to construct a new visitor centre at its Unicorn Brewery in Stockport. The company, whose beers include Double Hop, XB and Unicorn, said the 7,427 sq ft centre will provide "a unique opportunity" for the public to gain an insight into the inner workings of the iconic brewery. Cheshire-based Pochin Contractors has been appointed to carry out the work, which is expected to take 37 weeks to complete. The details of the contract will be agreed when the stage two tender is submitted in September.
Family brewer Robinsons has unveiled plans to construct a new visitor centre at its Unicorn Brewery in Stockport. The company, whose beers include Double Hop, XB and Unicorn, said the 7,427 sq ft centre will provide "a unique opportunity" for the public to gain an insight into the inner workings of the iconic brewery. Cheshire-based Pochin Contractors has been appointed to carry out the work, which is expected to take 37 weeks to complete. The details of the contract will be agreed when the stage two tender is submitted in September.
Funding secured for university enterprise champions
The University of Salford and Manchester Metropolitan University are among five universities in the region that will receive a share of a £930,000 funding pot from the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) to establish Enterprise Champions, helping graduates to be successful entrepreneurs. The champions will aim to increase business start-ups in the North West by offering guidance and practical support to students and graduates who show entrepreneurial ideas and commitment. The University of Liverpool, University of Cumbria and Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) will also set up champions, who will build on the lessons learnt from the existing enterprise champion network at LJMU.
The University of Salford and Manchester Metropolitan University are among five universities in the region that will receive a share of a £930,000 funding pot from the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) to establish Enterprise Champions, helping graduates to be successful entrepreneurs. The champions will aim to increase business start-ups in the North West by offering guidance and practical support to students and graduates who show entrepreneurial ideas and commitment. The University of Liverpool, University of Cumbria and Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) will also set up champions, who will build on the lessons learnt from the existing enterprise champion network at LJMU.
Character World opens in China
Cheshire-based textiles company Character World is opening two offices in China. The international offices, which employ 16 local people in total, will be based in Guangzhou and Hangzhou. The move builds on the two outlets Character World bought in Pakistan in 2006, which now employ ten people. The company designs and sells licensed bedroom products featuring popular characters including Dora the Explorer and The Simpsons. Last month it acquired the rights from Disney Pixar to sell Wall-E merchandise.
|
Shenton looking for a way out of ETRE?
Shenton Homes, the business headed by Colin Shenton, has appointed Knight Frank and P3 to market the former Mash & Air building on Manchester's Chorlton Street, now known as ETRE. Shenton had intended to build apartments at the site, which is available to lease or buy freehold. Knight Frank partner Daniel Bourmad said: "The layout of the building lends itself to a variety of opportunities including a boutique hotel, leisure, residential or character office accommodation."
Shenton Homes, the business headed by Colin Shenton, has appointed Knight Frank and P3 to market the former Mash & Air building on Manchester's Chorlton Street, now known as ETRE. Shenton had intended to build apartments at the site, which is available to lease or buy freehold. Knight Frank partner Daniel Bourmad said: "The layout of the building lends itself to a variety of opportunities including a boutique hotel, leisure, residential or character office accommodation."
Multimillion-pound upgrade for Preston station
Preston's railway station is set to undergo a multimillion-pound revamp to transform it into Lancashire's main transport interchange. The £20m overhaul is part of the West Coast Main Line Rail Utilisation Strategy (RUS) and is expected to include a new first class lounge, the replacement of footbridge steps with escalators and lifts, new toilets and other passenger facilities. It is thought that a planning application will be submitted next spring once the impact of the new West Coast timetable, which is set to be introduced in December, has been assessed by Network Rail and other rail groups.
Preston's railway station is set to undergo a multimillion-pound revamp to transform it into Lancashire's main transport interchange. The £20m overhaul is part of the West Coast Main Line Rail Utilisation Strategy (RUS) and is expected to include a new first class lounge, the replacement of footbridge steps with escalators and lifts, new toilets and other passenger facilities. It is thought that a planning application will be submitted next spring once the impact of the new West Coast timetable, which is set to be introduced in December, has been assessed by Network Rail and other rail groups.
Countryside's got the Salford vibe
The Manchester office of property agent Atisreal has been appointed by Countryside Properties to let the retail offering of The Vibe, the latest phase of commercial development at the New Broughton regeneration scheme in central Salford. The Vibe offers 20,000 sq ft of retail, leisure and business space and Atisreal has confirmed it is already in discussions with a number of convenience store and pharmacy operators to anchor the scheme. A further area of commercial space is also set to be released, which will form part of a landscaped piazza suitable for bar and restaurant occupiers.
The Manchester office of property agent Atisreal has been appointed by Countryside Properties to let the retail offering of The Vibe, the latest phase of commercial development at the New Broughton regeneration scheme in central Salford. The Vibe offers 20,000 sq ft of retail, leisure and business space and Atisreal has confirmed it is already in discussions with a number of convenience store and pharmacy operators to anchor the scheme. A further area of commercial space is also set to be released, which will form part of a landscaped piazza suitable for bar and restaurant occupiers.
Hotel in the park takes shape
Developer City Park Manchester has started construction of a new hotel in Manchester's Greenquarter. The £37m Park Inn Hotel, managed by the Rezidor Hotel Group, will feature 252 guest rooms, a restaurant, bar, lounge, sport and leisure facilities and an outdoor terrace, and is on schedule for completion in May 2009. The landmark Greenquarter development, started five years ago by Crosby Lend Lease, is a 7.8 acre mixed-use development in the north of Manchester.
Developer City Park Manchester has started construction of a new hotel in Manchester's Greenquarter. The £37m Park Inn Hotel, managed by the Rezidor Hotel Group, will feature 252 guest rooms, a restaurant, bar, lounge, sport and leisure facilities and an outdoor terrace, and is on schedule for completion in May 2009. The landmark Greenquarter development, started five years ago by Crosby Lend Lease, is a 7.8 acre mixed-use development in the north of Manchester.
Retirement village gets go-ahead
Vale Royal Borough Council has granted planning permission for NPL Estates' 40-acre regeneration scheme in Northwich. Plans include a 178-apartment retirement village and 96-bed nursing home, and two phases of residential development comprising 434 houses. The scheme will be built on land at Wade Works off Middlewich Road, a former chemical works site that has lain derelict since its closure in the early 1990s.
Vale Royal Borough Council has granted planning permission for NPL Estates' 40-acre regeneration scheme in Northwich. Plans include a 178-apartment retirement village and 96-bed nursing home, and two phases of residential development comprising 434 houses. The scheme will be built on land at Wade Works off Middlewich Road, a former chemical works site that has lain derelict since its closure in the early 1990s.
Kilmartin moves to Manchester
Edwards & Co has let the first floor of 26 King Street in Manchester to Scottish property company Kilmartin. The Edinburgh-based business, which is 50 per cent owned by HBOS, has taken 1,400 sq ft at a rental value of £18 per sq ft. Kilmartin director Mark Ridehalgh said the new office formed part of its plans to increase its involvement in North West schemes.
Edwards & Co has let the first floor of 26 King Street in Manchester to Scottish property company Kilmartin. The Edinburgh-based business, which is 50 per cent owned by HBOS, has taken 1,400 sq ft at a rental value of £18 per sq ft. Kilmartin director Mark Ridehalgh said the new office formed part of its plans to increase its involvement in North West schemes.
|
|
Contact Us
Insider
8th Floor, Boulton House
17-21 Chorlton Street
Manchester
M1 3HY
Telephone: +44 (0)161 907 9711
Email: nw@insiderdaily.co.uk |
 |
Subscribe
To subscribe to the eBulletin,
click here.
|
|
- |
