Europe

One of the most famous nautical names in the world offers a surprising mix of services, as Alan Swaby discovers.

There can’t be many ports which have an ancestry going back 2,000 years or which, at least these days, handles so little actual freight as Gibraltar. In many ways, it is unique—not just in terms of its location at the crossroads of the north-south and east-west shipping routes, but also in terms of its business mix.

Ford Motor Company announced today that its supply network is creating thousands of new jobs around the world to support the launch of the new Ford Focus.

Ford is using 310 suppliers in 22 countries to make parts for the new Focus, and many are adding jobs, facilities and equipment to meet demand for the vehicle. Suppliers have added 5,500 jobs at facilities in North America, Europe and Asia to produce parts for the new Focus.

Madrid-based pharmaceutical group Zeltia has reported strong results for the year ending 31 December 2010.

The group’s net revenues for 2010 totalled €153.5 million, a rise of 24.4 per cent from 2009, when revenues were €123.4 million. Zeltia said the increase was largely due to a 70 per cent growth in sales of Yondelis, Spain’s first anti-tumour drug.

At year-end, Yondelis had been approved for sale in 63 countries, 33 of which are outside the European Economic Area.

Northern Irish bus building company the Wright Group has announced it will supply 334 new vehicles to transport company Arriva in a deal worth £55 million.

The contract will see the Wright Group manufacture 204 double deckers and 130 single deckers, with production beginning this spring and delivery expected later in the year.

The Ballymena-based company said that 184 of the buses would be its Wrightbus Gemini 2 DL integral Double Deck model, and 20 would be the Eclipse Gemini 2 Double Deck buses, adding to Arriva’s existing hybrid fleet in London.

In 2010, Brussels saw the launch of the Viage Entertainment Center. Managing director Andrew Webb tells Andrew Pelis how the casino and entertainment venue has quickly established itself as a successful venture and benefactor to the local community.

Brussels has long been held up as a doyen for international business. While that remains the case, a recent splash of glamour has seen entertainment become en vogue with the arrival last year of the Viage Entertainment Center.

Royal Dutch Shell is receiving bids for stakes in four of its Nigerian oil fields, according to a report by Bloomberg.

Companies bidding include Essar, Afren and Perenco, said the report. Essar is bidding with Nigeria’s Energy Equity Resources, and French company Perenco has teamed up with Switzerland’s Addax & Oryx Group and Oando. The UK’s Heritage Oil is also said to be bidding alongside the Nigerian contractor Shoreline Energy International.

Private equity firms are also thought to have expressed interest in the stakes.

Chinese telecomms equipment maker Huawei has changed its mind about the controversial acquisition of US server manufacturer 3Leaf, after national security concerns had been raised in the US.

Huawei purchased intellectual property from 3Leaf in May 2010 for $2 million but the deal caused concern in the US government, as it had not been cleared through the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS).

Huawei initially rejected the CFIUS's recommendation to voluntarily divest from acquisition, but has now had a change of heart.

UK drinks company Diageo has announced the acquisition of Turkish spirits firm Mey Icki Sanayi & Ticaret for £1.3 billion.

Mey is one of the largest alcohol producers in Turkey, controlling around 80 per cent of the market for the Turkish national drink, raki. It also controls around 65 per cent of the country’s vodka market.

The deal will give Diageo access to Mey’s extensive distribution network as well as its production facilities. The Istanbul-based company currently has 50,000 retail outlets across Turkey.