Los Angeles-based Northrop Grumman has won a major $3.8 billion contract to maintain and service the US Air ForceÔÇÖs fleet of KC-10 aerial refueling tankers. Northrop will take over from Seattle-based rival Boeing, who currently holds the contract for servicing the aircraft, in January. Boeing has been providing a 24-hour service, seven days a week on the fleet since 1998.

Swiss mining firm Xstrata has been given seven weeks to submit a proposal to merge with its rival Anglo American.

Vilu Reef Beach & Spa Resort in the Maldives has received numerous awards and accolades for its performance. Operations manager Ali Yoosuf talks to Gay Sutton about the secrets of its success

Comcast, the largest cable network in the US, is reportedly in discussions with General Electric (GE) over a stake in NBC Universal, owner of the NBC television network.  Analysts have valued NBC Universal (NBCU) at between $21 billion and $35 billion, including an estimated $5.1 billion in debt. The stake under discussion is around 50 percent, though the deal would partly depend on French media conglomerate Vivendi relinquishing its 20 percent holding.

A sense of nurture
The spectacular growth enjoyed by Ububele Holdings is based on a selected process of vertical integration of its agri business and scientifically-based beneficiation of fruit and vegetables in its food processing division, as Ruari McCallion learned from Theo Kleinhans.
In just six years, the turnover of Ububele Holdings Ltd has rocketed from R2.7 million to R400 million. Even in a period of economic downturn, Ububele and its businesses continue to grow. How has it achieved such remarkable success?

Bioethical mining
The application of bioheapleaching by Finnish company Talvivaara doesnÔÇÖt just help with environmental considerationsÔÇöit makes very sound commercial sense as well, as Ruari McCallion discovered.

Worth its salt
The growth of Saltcor and the Donald Brown Group of Companies led one commentator to describe the salt business as ÔÇ£a better bet than producing goldÔÇØ. Ruari McCallion takes a closer look.

Firm foundations
Norwegian company OWEC Tower provides the bases that are making the development of large-scale offshore wind farms possible. Per Bull Haugs├©en spoke to Ruari McCallion.

A following wind
Offshore Marine Management is expanding and diversifying in a rapidly growing market. Jane Bordenave speaks to operations manager Eckhard Bruckschen about what lies ahead, both for the company and for the offshore renewable energy market globally.

Mighty machinery movers
Three years into a five-year management buyout, Machine Moving & Engineering is focusing on customer service rather than growth. Kerry Corfield explains to Gay Sutton why the company has opened its own training academy.