APEX Hotels has warned the ongoing coronavirus pandemic represents a “material uncertainty” over its ability to continue as a going concern, accounts revealed this week.

However, the Scottish company, which has 10 four-star hotels located across Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee, London and Bath, has said that it anticipates a “strong recovery in hotel and hospitality operations in the short to medium term as we emerge from the Covid-19 pandemic.”

READ MORE: The hospitality industry began to reopen in Scotland last week (April 26) after being shuttered since Boxing Day under lockdown measures. While hotels, bars and restaurants are welcoming customers again, the sale of alcohol is currently confined to outdoor areas. Sales of alcohol are expected to be permitted indoors again from May 17.

Investors back deal to sell Scottish firm

The Herald: David Ferguson.Picture: Gordon TerrisDavid Ferguson.Picture: Gordon Terris

SHAREHOLDERS in Edinburgh-based Nucleus Financial have overwhelmingly accepted a £145 million takeover offer for the firm.

READ MORE: Salisbury-based retirement planning firm James Hay said investors holding 91.73% of the shares in the Scottish financial technology business had accepted its recommended cash offer of 188p a share.

Rapid Covid test from Omega stacks up

The Herald: It stood up well against ‘gold standard’ PCRIt stood up well against ‘gold standard’ PCR

A RAPID Covid test made by Scotland’s Omega Diagnostics has been shown to detect the presence of the virus in more than 96 per cent of those whose infection would be picked up by “gold standard” PCR testing carried out in a laboratory.

READ MORE: New independent verification has shown that the Mologic lateral flow antigen test for Covid-19, which has been CE marked by Omega for sale under its Visitect brand, has 96.4% sensitivity when compared to laboratory PCR testing.

Weir in $800m bond offering

The Herald: Weir has linked bond to sustainability targetsWeir has linked bond to sustainability targets

WEIR Group has declared that it has been buoyed by the investor response to the first bond offering in the company’s 150-year history.

READ MORE: The Glasgow-based engineering giant is looking to raise $800 million with a bond offering aimed at institutional investors which underpins its environmental sustainability targets.

Watchmaker opens first Scottish boutique

The Herald: The new storeThe new store

SWISS luxury watchmaker Breitling has opened its first boutique in Scotland, launching its “urban loft” retail concept on Glasgow’s Buchanan Street.

READ MORE: It said that its 60 square-metre boutique in Glasgow, which will be managed by the Watches of Switzerland Group, “stands in bold contrast to classical luxury retail brand environments”.

Clyde oyster firm targets Far East

The Herald: Alan Forbes, owner of Cumbrae Oysters, with Craig Donald, senior surveyor at Peel Ports Picture: Martin ShieldsAlan Forbes, owner of Cumbrae Oysters, with Craig Donald, senior surveyor at Peel Ports Picture: Martin Shields

CUMBRAE Oysters is doubling the size of its current three-acre site at Hunterston in Ayrshire.

READ MORE: Alan Forbes, owner and director of the seafood specialist, highlighted the value of the “very cold, deep Clyde estuarine water” to oyster production for customers in the Far East as the new 15-year lease agreement with Peel Ports was announced.

WATCH: Moment HMS Glasgow's two halves joined together

The Herald: Images/video: BAE SystemsImages/video: BAE Systems

THE two blocks of HMS Glasgow are inched together in a delicate operation in the Govan shipyard.

READ MORE: The vessel has reached a milestone in construction with the two halves, which have been built in the shipyard halls in Glasgow, now showing the scale of the first of a series of Type 26 frigates.

Analysis, Insight, Opinion

Kristy Dorsey: The switch to hybrid working

Scott Wright: Are we ready to face another independence debate?

Ian McConnell: Should we care if Royal Bank HQ move to England triggered by independence?

Kristy Dorsey: Caterpillar wars are not the only supermarket battle​

Ian McConnell: Can our leaders avoid further blunders on perilous road?

Brian Donnelly: Anger as islands tourism hit by cancellations

Features

Monday Interview: Optiseller studies funding options as online sales soar

SME Focus: Edinburgh tea specialist develops blends flavoured with whisky

From the Briefing: Family sells Scottish seaside holiday park after 33 years

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