Birmingham Post

Fresh Hope for Jlr As Tata's Problems Ease

A distinct thawing in relations between Tata and the Government and an improvement in the Indian motor giant's credit rating have raised the prospect of a deal for Jaguar Land Rover as early as this week. The Government has removed dealbreaking conditions from the 10- monthold negotiations, and is said to be "desperate" to conclude the process. Sources close to Tata say demands for a Government seat on the JLR board and a veto on redundancies were removed after the Treasury became more confid...

Australian Captain Ricky Ponting Is Bowled by England'[ ... ]

Does Public Sector Have Will to Deliver?

Birmingham value pilot - page 12 It is difficult not to be cynical about yet another Government attempt to encourage public agencies and councils to work more closely together.

Cautious Optimism for Jlr Campaign ; Comment

Hopes for JLR deal - page 1 Is a successful end in sight for Jaguar Land Rover's long-fought campaign to persuade the Government to underwrite its loans and help it weather the recession? Or is today's encouraging news yet another false dawn in a saga that has dragged on long after other governments implemented measures to support their own car industries? This newspaper believes there are grounds for cautious optimism this week.

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03.08.2009

BUSINESS NEWS 4-8 Victoria Carpets down Carpet-maker Victoria PLC has seen first quarter revenues fall by 13.8 per cent as spending in the UK and Ireland remained depressed.

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National Express Still Tight-Lipped

National Express has refused to be drawn on reports it is planning to pursue a pounds 350 million rights issue after securing the support of some of its biggest shareholders. If the troubled rail and bus group goes ahead with the cash call, it could be a blow to a planned bid by the Spanish Cosmen family, National Express's largest shareholder, and the private equity firm CVC to take control of the business.

Tata Maps Out Jlr's Tough Road to Survival

Editor Marc Reeves, who has met Tata's top management both in India and the UK, assesses their stewardship of Jaguar Land Rover. The future is bright for Jaguar Land Rover - that is the word coming out of Indian parent Tata.

High Streets in Need of Help ; City View

Nothing screams "recession" more than the sight of once-bustling shops closed down and boarded up, leaving a visiblydecaying reminder of the good times before the onset of the credit crunch. And the West Midlands has more than its fair share of blighted streets - new research by the Local Data Company showed that nearly 14 per cent of shops in Birmingham are standing empty - well above the national average.

Beer Firms 'Will Clamp Down On Keg Thefts'

Global beer companies are preparing to sue anyone caught stealing their beer kegs, in the wake of a major West Midlands Police operation to crack down on the crime. Twelve Midlands men are facing trial at Crown Court after being arrested over a pounds 9 million West Midlands Police sting aimed at trapping metal thieves.

Restructuring Measures Help Carpet-Maker to Weather the Storm

Carpet-maker Victoria PLC has seen first quarter revenues fall by 13.8 per cent as spending in the UK and Ireland remained depressed. In a statement following the firm's annual general meeting, chairman Alexander Anton said conditions remained challenging for the Kidderminister company in the three months to June 4 - and there were no signs of improvement.

Bank of England Adviser at Event

Bank of England economist Rob Elder will speak about the state of the economy at an event in Birmingham this month. Mr Elder, an adviser to the Bank's monetary policy committee, will be the guest speaker at a Birmingham Forward event at Bank restaurant on Thursday, August 20.

'Ambitious Plans Needed to Cut Debt'

The UK faces one of the biggest tasks among major economies to repair the impact of the recession on the public finances, a ratings agency has warned. Fitch confirmed the UK's gold-plated AAA sovereign credit rating but said the Government needed "more ambitious" plans to cut debts.

Shop Vacancy Rates On Increase in Midlands

New research shows nearly 14 per cent of shops in Birmingham are standing empty as the recession claims more High Street casualties. The scale of the devastation wreaked on retailers by the downturn was disclosed as a report suggested the number of empty shops had doubled in some areas.