May 2016




Wolffe, Di Rollo set for top Scots law jobs

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has recommended the appointment of James Wolffe QC and Alison Di Rollo as Scotland’s new law officers. Subject to approval by the Scottish…


Menzies in joint venture talks with Oman Air

Edinburgh-based logistics firm John Menzies has signed a memorandum of understanding with Oman Air for ground handling at Omani airports. Menzies said the announcement is a…


Inter Milan CEO joins Goals Soccer Centres board

Inter Milan chief executive Michael Bolingbroke is joining East Kilbride-based Goals Soccer Centres as senior independent non-executive director on June 13. Last week, Goals appointed casinos and pubs…




Rothschild merger approach to Alliance Trust

Dundee-based investment trust firm Alliance Trust has received an informal merger approach from the investment trust of British financier Jacob Rothschild to create a quoted…



FCA watchdog hires former funds chief Godfrey

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has hired former Investment Association chief executive Daniel Godfrey as a consultant as it gets ready to produce a report on value for money…


Scottish Salmon Co. revenues up to £29.1m

The Scottish Salmon Company reported revenues of £29.1 million for the first quarter of 2016, up from £27.3 million in the same quarter last year. Operating profit,…



Casino boss Jones is new CEO at Goals Soccer

East Kilbride-based Goals Soccer Centres has appointed casinos and pubs executive Mark Jones as its new chief executive officer following a turbulent year in which its share…


Microsoft, Facebook build transatlantic cable

Microsoft and Facebook have agreed to build the highest-capacity subsea cable to ever cross the Atlantic — from Northern Virginia to Bilbao, Spain. “The new ‘MAREA’ cable will help meet the…



Scottish Natural Heritage appoints five women

Scotland’s environment secretary Roseanna Cunningham announced Scottish Natural Heritage’s (SNH) new-look board which includes five new female members. SNH said the appointments illustrate the organisation’s drive to meet…



Alliance Trust appoints ex-journalist to board

Dundee-based investment trust company Alliance Trust has appointed former journalist Clare Dobie as an independent non-executive director. The appointment follows a vow made in March by new…



Union calls for North Sea industry summit

Unite, Scotland’s biggest union, has called for a cross-sector oil and gas summit to “plan for the industry’s survival and growth” after Shell announced it will…


Big changes at Stan Life real estate funds

Edinburgh-based Standard Life Investments, one of Europe’s largest real estate investors managing about £18.2 billion of real estate-related assets, has announced some big changes to its…



Facebook buys Edinburgh-based Two Big Ears

Facebook has bought Edinburgh-based audio tech firm Two Big Ears for an undisclosed sum. “Two Big Ears has revolutionized how humans hear sound with software,” said…


Foreign investment projects at record high

EY’s global investment monitor showed the number of foreign direct investment (FDI) projects into Scotland in 2015 increased to 119 investments, an increase of 51% on 2014….




Go-ahead for £2.6bn Moray Firth Windfarm

The £2.6 billion Beatrice Offshore Windfarm project in Scotland’s Outer Moray Firth has been given the green light for construction by owners SSE, Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners and…



Gilbert: Aberdeen resisted efforts to buy firm

Aberdeen Asset Management has resisted interest from competitors in Europe and Australia who want to buy the asset manager and plans to remain independent, chief executive officer Martin…




Muirfield banned from staging The Open

The Open Championship will no longer include East Lothian links golf club Muirfield on its rota of courses after the club voted to continue its policy of not accepting…


Viridor in £700m council waste recycling deal

Five Scottish local authorities have signed a £700 million partnership deal with recycling and waste management company Viridor. The 25-year agreement will “divert waste from landfill by…


Stirling University in £50m Barclays placement

Barclays has arranged a £50 million private placement for the University of Stirling via a sale of unlisted, private securities to institutional investors. The funding for the university…


CalMac wins £900m ferry contract

State-owned CalMac Ferries has won a new £900 million contract to continue operating the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Services (CHFS) for eight years from October 1,…


Johnston Press revenue down 13.7%

Newspaper publisher Johnston Press, owner of The Scotsman and the Yorkshire Post, said on Wednesday that daily print sales of its recently-acquired i newspaper peaked at 297,849…


New Scottish Government cabinet unveiled

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has handed responsibility for enhancing Scotland’s education system and improving opportunities for young people to John Swinney, her longest serving cabinet secretary. Swinney, who…


Menzies chairman retires in latest upheaval

Edinburgh-based airport services and news distribution company John Menzies said on Wednesday that its chairman Iain Napier “informed the company of his wish to retire” after eight years on the…



22% vote against Standard Life bosses’ pay

Almost a quarter of Standard Life shareholders — about 22. 3% — voted against its directors’ remuneration report at its annual meeting on Tuesday. Last week, Standard…


Free WiFi coming to Edinburgh city centre

Edinburgh Council has agreed to a 10-year concession contract with intechnologyWiFi to bring free high-speed WiFi and improved mobile coverage to the Scottish capital’s city centre….





BP doubles stake in North Sea gas megaproject

BP said on Monday it has doubled its interest in the Maersk-operated $4.5 billion Culzean gas development in the UK central North Sea after acquiring an additional interest from JX…








Walker new CEO at Entrepreneurial Spark

Scottish-based business incubator network Entrepreneurial Spark, “the world’s largest free accelerator for start-up and growing ventures,” has promoted co-founder Lucy-Rose Walker to the role of  CEO. It…


Aberdeen plan £40m stadium west of city

Aberdeen Football Club chairman Stewart Milne has revealed plans for a new £40 million stadium and training facility at Kingsford, west of the city and close…



FirstGroup, Stagecoach in East Coast train war

Aberdeen-based FirstGroup has been granted approval by the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) to launch “open access” rail services between London, north-east England and Edinburgh offering an…


Finance and Economy cabinet role to be split

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said on Wednesday she will appoint her new cabinet next week — and will split the role of the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Economy…


Standard Life CEO Skeoch cuts his bonus

Edinburgh-based savings and investment giant Standard Life said its chief executive Keith Skeoch voluntarily cut his potential incentive plan from 500% of his salary to 400%. Skeoch’s base salary is £700,000,…



Energy Assets shareholders threaten £198m deal

A group of shareholders who control 22.6% of Livingston-based industrial smart metering firm Energy Assets Group said on Wednesday they would vote against a £198 million takeover deal unless Energy…


Wood Group predicts 20% fall in earnings

Aberdeen-based oil and gas services giant Wood Group said on Wednesday that it expects its earnings before interest, taxes and amortization (EBITA) to December 31, 2016 to…



Stan Life Investments in strategic China move

Edinburgh-based Standard Life Investments’ Hong Kong business has established a strategic relationship with leading Chinese asset manager Bosera Asset Management. The two fund managers have announced the launch of…



Edinburgh Airport April passengers exceed 1m

Edinburgh Airport’s passenger figures for April rose by 8.7% to 1,009,529 with international traffic — up 18.4% — the strongest performer. International flights now make up more than half…




Wood Group wins two new contracts in Iraq

Aberdeen-based energy services Wood Group has won two three -year contracts valued at over $140 million to deliver technical services and expertise to an unnamed international oil…