THE Scot who runs Monsanto has said the genetically-modified seeds giant might change its name to help secure the $45bn (£29bn) takeover of Swiss rival Syngenta, reports the Sunday Times.
Hugh Grant, from Larkhall in South Lanarkshire, told the paper he would gladly ditch the Monsanto brand to secure a deal to acquire the crop chemicals maker. Syngenta spurned an informal $45bn offer from Monsanto earlier this year.
The Sunday Telegraph reports that half of the dynasty behind the Wilkinson discount retail empire have banked £63m by selling out of the chain.
The paper said the family of Karin Swann, whose grandfather founded the business, sold their holding in the company to relatives led by Ms Swann's cousin Lisa Wilkinson.
It noted the Lucky Voice karaoke business co-founded by e-commerce pioneer Baroness Lane Fox is eyeing international expansion after growing sales to £4m. Founded in 2006, Lucky Voice runs three venues and has franchises in 41 clubs. There are 120 Lucky Voice Rooms across UK.
Baroness Lane Fox achieved business stardom after co-founding the Lastminute.com booking website in 1998.
Almost a third of small firm owners are thinking of selling within the next five years, according to research by accountancy firm Moore Stephens reported by the Mail on Sunday.
Debbie Clarke, head of mergers and acquisitions at Moore Stephens, told the paper: "This would suggest a huge transition in ownership of owner-managed businesses."
Some 72 per cent of respondents said they would not pass their company to a family member. Around 70 per cent would never entertain a sale to private equity.
The Sunday Herald has found that the number of jobs created in the offshore wind industry in Scotland has fallen well short of expectations.
It said the most recent figures showed that in 2013 around 1,800 people were employed in the sector in 2013. No offshore wind farms have been built in Scottish waters since then.
A 2010 report on the future of the sector commissioned by industry body Scottish Renewables forecast that at best around 30,000 full-time equivalent jobs would be created by 2015.
The worst case scenario predicted 741 jobs by 2015. The second and third scenarios considered in the report forecast 5,300 to 17,000 jobs would be created.
The 180MW Robin Rigg farm in the Solway Firth is the only one installed in Scottish waters.
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