Dutch giant moves for Smith Group

Lancashire mechanical and electrical engineering business Smith Group UK has been bought by listed Dutch giant Imtech. The value of the deal is undisclosed, but the company reported a turnover of £38m against EBITDA of £1.8m in the year to April 2010. It is growing around 20 per cent year on year.

Merseyside pharmaceutical business sold to Bosch

Pharmaceutical equipment company Manesty, which employs 110 people from its headquarters in Knowsley, has been sold by its German-owned parent business to global technology and services group Bosch.

Parkwood reveals delisting plans

Support services group Parkwood Holdings, based in Preston, this morning revealed plans to delist from the main market of the London Stock Exchange. It said the costs of retaining the listing outweigh the benefits.

Lookers receives 'highly speculative' approach

Shares in Manchester car dealer Lookers closed almost 11 per cent higher yesterday following a 'highly speculative' takeover approach and amid speculation that three parties are interested in taking the company private.

Engenda expands with DTEC deal

Runcorn engineering group Engenda has continued its buy-and-build strategy with the acquisition of DTEC Site Services.

Report warns on Northern 'vacuum'

The closure of partnership organisation Northern Way risks hindering economic development across the North, an independent report has warned. Economic and social development consultancy SQW found that its absence could result in a "vacuum" being created and could adversely affect the development of high-speed rail in the region.

Rising commodity prices hit McBride

Personal care products group McBride has said £5m would be wiped from its trading profits as a result of the rise in commodity prices. McBride has sites in Middleton, St Helens, Barrow-in-Furness and Burnley.

Hill Dickinson appoints new Manchester head

Law firm Hill Dickinson has appointed Geraldine Ryan as the new head of its Manchester office.

Something for the bank holiday weekend

This week: My word is Bond; we Cannes work it out; and life on the Edge (Street).

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Southern 11 set for Spinningfields

American barbecue food retailer Southern 11 has taken a 2,500 sq ft unit at Spinningfields in Manchester city centre.

MSP adds four tenant companies

Manchester Science Parks has added four new tenant companies to its Corridor site during April.

Tague on Tour: Wire in the blood

Warrington’s had its worst year of office take-up since records began, but Neil Tague finds reasons to be cheerful.

In Focus: Start-ups need sales income, not VC money

Start-up businesses frequently chase the dragon of venture capital money. But, argues Michael Taylor, they often need to sharpen up their sales skills first.

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