2017


Menzies completes $202m ASIG acquisition

Edinburgh-based aviation logistics and news distribution firm John Menzies said it reached an agreement with the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to complete the acquisition of Orlando, Florida-based aviation…


Data reveals Borders Railway tourism boost

New data from the Scottish Tourism Economic Assessment Monitor (STEAM) revealed that tourism in the Scottish Borders and Midlothian has received a major boost since the…



Clydesdale and Yorkshire deposits £27.3bn

Clydesdale and Yorkshire Bank owner CYBG said trading in the three months to December 31, 2016, had been in line with its expectations with deposit balances up…



RBS rejects AGM shareholder committee bid

The Royal Bank of Scotland Group (RBS) said its board decided not to take forward a proposed AGM resolution submitted by ShareSoc and UK Shareholders’ Association…


£315m Inverness city-region deal signed

The Scottish government said the £315 million Inverness and Highland City-Region Deal was formally signed on Monday, sealing the deal for the release of funding…


Law firm Murgitroyd’s shares down as profits fall

Shares of Glasgow-based intellectual property law firm Murgitroyd Group fell another 7% on Monday after it said profit before tax fell 30% to £1.48 million in the six months to November 30, 2016. Murgitroyd…


Glasgow homes sell faster amid shortage

A shortage of properties in the Glasgow area means the number of houses being sold has decreased — but high demand for available properties means they are selling faster…


Troon open golf was worth £110m to economy

Hosting the 145th Open golf championship at Royal Troon delivered more than £110 million worth of benefit to Scotland, according to an independent study announced by…




RBS takes another £3.1bn hit for RMBS

Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc said its full year 2016 results will reflect the taking of a further £3.1 billion provision in relation to investigations…


Bohemian Byres Road set for £9m revamp

Glasgow City Council has unveiled plans to transform the area around Byres Road, the centre of the city’s bohemian west end, in a £9 million project. The…



Scotsman owner Johnston to print Daily Mail

Johnston Press — owner of The Scotsman, the i newspaper and the Yorkshire Post — said it signed a multi-million pound contract with Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL), owners…



Scottish Friendly sales at record £34m

Glasgow-based Scottish Friendly, Scotland’s largest financial mutual, said it achieved record-breaking sales in 2016 — a 33% rise from £25.5 million in 2015 to £33.9 million in 2016….


Murgitroyd down 20% after earnings alert

Shares of Glasgow-based intellectual property law firm Murgitroyd Group fell about 20% after it said in a trading update that its full year results will fall short of market…





Governance expert Gilshan joins Standard Life

Edinburgh-based fund manager Standard Life Investments said it has strengthened its environmental, social and governance (ESG) investment team with the appointment of Deborah Gilshan as…




Apex Hotels turnover up 7% to £61.3m

Edinburgh-based Apex Hotels Limited said its turnover rose 7% to £61.3 million and profit before tax soared 132% to £10.3 million in the year to April 30,…


Brodies to appoint three new partners

Scottish headquartered law firm Brodies LLP said it appointed three new partners who are “recognised leaders in the fields of infrastructure projects, real estate finance and…


Baillie Gifford to appoint three new partners

Edinburgh-based fund manager Baillie Gifford & Co. announced it would appoint three new partners on May 1, 2017, taking its total number of partners up to 43. Baillie Gifford employs…






FreeAgent shares soar on RBS contract win

Shares of Edinburgh-based FreeAgent Holdings, which provides accounting software for small businesses, rose for a second successive day following the announcement that it won a major contract with…


Scotland to strengthen Japan trade links

The Scottish government’s external affairs secretary Fiona Hyslop will visit Japan next month to strengthen economic and cultural ties between the two countries. Hyslop will meet business…


New measures to protect crab and lobster

Crab and lobster, landings of which were worth £26.8 million to the Scottish economy in 2015, are to be given additional protection through new conservation…


Holyrood pledges 66% cut in greenhouse gas

The Scottish Government has published detailed proposals of a plan to achieve a 66% reduction in Scotland’s greenhouse gas emissions by 2032. Cabinet Secretary for…



Man Utd regains top spot in Deloitte League

Manchester United regained first place in the Deloitte Football Money League, ending the 11-year run of Real Madrid. Deloitte said record revenue of €689 million (about £515 million)…






Faroe Petroleum wins new licence prospects

Aberdeen-based Faroe Petroleum said it has been awarded four new prospective exploration licences, including two operatorships, on the Norwegian Continental Shelf. Faroe Petroleum CEO Graham Stewart…


Scots unemployment 5.1%; UK rate 4.8%

Unemployment in Scotland in the September to November quarter was down 12,000 on the same quarter last year, but rose by 11,000 during the period to 139,000, according to UK’s…







Former Goals Soccer CEO Rogers leaves board

East Kilbride-based Goals Soccer Centres said former chief executive Keith Rogers, an executive director, has stepped down from the company’s board. Current goals CEO Mark Jones said: “On…



Big changes at Macallan owner Edrington

Glasgow-based drinks company Edrington — owner of The Macallan, Highland Park and Famous Grouse — has announced a number changes in its executive ranks. Edrington said Bill Farrar, managing…




Gilbert new Aberdeen University senior governor

The University of Aberdeen said it appointed Aberdeen Asset Management CEO Martin Gilbert as senior governor to lead its governing body, the University Court. The senior governor…


Paradis joins Weir Group executive

Glasgow-based engineering giant Weir Group said it appointed David Paradis to its group executive as division president of Weir Flow Control, effective January 23. Paradis succeeds John…


Record for Highlands and Islands Airports

Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd (HIAL) said passenger numbers rose 10.6% to a record 1,606,168 travellers at its 11 airports across Scotland in 2016. HIAL is…


FSB targets asset management vulnerabilities

The Financial Stability Board (FSB) has published its policy recommendations to address structural vulnerabilities in the global asset management industry. The asset management industry grew to $76.7…



Devro shares up after improved second half

Shares of Glasgow-based sausage skin and collagen products firm Devro rose about 3% after it said its performance had recently improved in China, Russia and South East Asia and…


Record year at Edinburgh, Glasgow airports

Scotland’s two largest airports — Edinburgh and Glasgow — had record numbers of passengers in 2016, handling almost 22 million travellers. Edinburgh Airport said it had 12.37 million…


Tourism employment up 11% to 217,000

The number of people working in Scottish tourism rose 11% to 217,000 between 2014 and 2015 — representing roughly 9% of Scotland’s total employment, according to…


Ex-Saatchi boss Roberts new Beattie chairman

Former Saatchi & Saatchi chairman Kevin Roberts — who resigned from his role last year after he made controversial comments about gender in the advertising industry in an interview…


Wood wins multi-million Saudi Aramco deal

Aberdeen-based oil and gas services giant Wood Group said it secured a five year, multi-million dollar framework agreement to continue to provide engineering and project management services…


Veteran Giadrossi joins Cairn Energy board

Edinburgh-based oil and gas company Cairn Energy said it appointed industry veteran Nicoletta Giadrossi as an independent non-executive director and a member of its remuneration committee. Cairn chairman Ian Tyler…


Aberdeen Council £370m bond oversubscribed

Aberdeen City Council leader Jenny Laing performed the opening ceremony at the London Stock Exchange on Tuesday to mark the local authority’s successful £370 million bond issue….


Ecometrica wins £14m Space Agency deal

Edinburgh-based sustainability software and data company Ecometrica has won a contract worth more than £14 million from the UK Space Agency’s recently launched International Partnership…


Govt. no longer biggest Lloyds shareholder

The UK government said its has now recovered more than £18 billion of the £20.3 billion that taxpayers injected into the Lloyds Banking Group — owner of the Bank…