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Top story
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Moneysupermarket mulls move to England
Moneysupermarket.com, the price comparison website operator, is considering moving its headquarters across the border into Cheshire to make room for expansion. Wales second biggest company by market value has outgrown its Ewloe headquarters in Flintshire, and is still growing as consumers go online for advice to cope with rising costs. A spokesman said talks had been held with councils on both sides of the border about a move to a consolidated site, but no decision had yet been made.
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Warwick International looks East
Mostyn chemicals company Warwick International has bought Malaysian firm GME Chemicals as part of a strategy to grow its speciality chemical distribution business. Warwick already owns chemical distribution companies in France, Portugal, Spain, Slovenia and Italy and has representative offices in China, South Africa and Brazil. 
Freshwater pays £1.3m for London agency
PR group Freshwater UK will pay £1.3m for London-based consumer PR agency Attenborough Saffron, which it agreed to buy last year, after the division met its targets. The deferred consideration will be satisfied by the issue of 800,000 new ordinary shares at 87.5 pence per share and the payment of £600,000 in cash. Attenborough Saffron will be rebranded as Freshwater Consumer from July and its managing director, Nick Attenborough, has been appointed to the executive committee of the group.
North Wales law firms merge
Denbigh and St Asaph-based Swayne Johnson Solicitors has merged with Llandudno-based Chamberlain, Johnson & Parke to form one of the largest legal practices in North Wales. The merger gives Swayne Johnson a base in a town of growing importance. The merged firm will have 50 employees.
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Rubin converts
Law firm Rubin Lewis OBrien has converted to limited liability partnership status to aid its growth plans and make it easier to recruit staff. The Cwmbran and Cardiff-based firm, which employs 70 staff, has followed a route used by many of the UKs larger legal practices.
Hotel market slows despite Six Nations
The Welsh hotel market slowed in February despite a boost from the Six Nations tournament, according to PKF Hotel Consultancy Services. While Cardiff had a busy month hosting rugby matches, an overall drop of 2.2 per cent year on year room yield was recorded from £50.23 in 2007 to £49.11 in 2008. Occupancy remained healthy during February, rising 3.8 per cent on last year, but room rates dropped by 5.8 per cent. Wales underperformed the wider UK market, which has remained steady.
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Property and construction
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Storage Giant turns developer
Newport-based Storage Giant has announced a new £3m, 20-unit development backed by Newport Unlimited, the partnership between the Welsh Assembly Government and Newport City Council. Estuary Court on the Queensway Meadows Estate overlooks the former entrance to the old Llanwern Steelworks in East Newport and comprises 20 business units of between 650 and 5,520 sq. ft. Demand has been strong and the company expects many of the units to be occupied by the time the development is completed next month.
More in store for St Davids 2
Seven more retailers have signed up for the St Davids 2 retail development in Cardiff, due to open in 2009. Accessory specialist Radley has taken a 1,335 sq ft unit, while womenswear store Ghost has signed up for a 1,104 sq ft shop. Outfitter Reiss and business wear shop TM Lewin have also been confirmed, along with Crabtree & Evelyn, Links of London and All Saints.
Units go at Llanelli Gate
The first nine units of the £7.8m Llanelli Gate investment by the Welsh Industrial Partnership (WIP) have been either sold, leased or are under offer. Work on the second phase of the site at Dafen is now underway. The first phase has provided a total of 50,000 sq ft of accommodation in a range of different sized industrial units with the capacity to accommodate 110 jobs. WIP is a joint venture between The Royal Bank of Scotland and the Welsh Assembly Government. The scheme is marketed by Lambert Smith Hampton.
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Dearing steps down
AIM-listed technology company Pure Wafer has announced that James Dearing has resigned as director of the company and company secretary. Giles Clarke, chairman of Pure Wafer, said: I would like to thank James on behalf of the board and company for his contribution to the group and wish him well for the future.
New partner at Watts
Alex Embiricos has joined independent chartered accountancy and business advisory Watts Gregory as a partner. He was KPMGs first tax partner in South Wales before starting his own tax consultancy firm, Alex Embiricos and Co, in 1995. Embiricos is a frequent contributor to BBC Wales programmes on tax and financial issues.
Three new executives for Cardiff & Co
Cardiff & Co, the company formed to promote the Cardiff city region, has strengthened its team with three new appointments. Rachel Dancey has joined the company as business tourism executive, Vicky Jones has become membership executive and Anna Garton is publications executive. Dancey was customer liaison manager for Stratstone Aston Martin, where she spent nearly two years as customer liaison manager. Jones comes from a marketing and event management role at Visit Wales, while Garton is a web and graphic designer.
Smith builds career
David Smith has been appointed as the new regional managing director for Bellway Homes Wales. Smith has been in the housing industry for 22 years and joins Bellway from Redrow Homes, where he had been managing director since 2006. He will be based at Bellway's head office in Cardiff.
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