Broadland Wineries deal halted
A planned deal involving the acquisition of Norfolk-based Broadland Wineries by Indage UK, part of India’s largest wine producer, has been abandoned.
Indage had made an offer for 100 per cent of Broadland’s share capital but negotiations have ended after certain contractual obligations could not be met.
Cawston-based Broadland Wineries produces fruit, tonic and mulled wines, perry and ciders and is a contract packer of imported wines. Since leaving administration in 2006, the company has steadily increased sales and profitability and today has 75 staff . . . more

Caravan maker in administration
Fleetwood Caravans, a Suffolk-based manufacturer has gone into administration with the loss of fifty jobs. The economic downturn is being blamed, as consumers cut back on ‘big- ticket’ items.
Administrator KPMG is seeking a buyer for the Long Melford-based firm which sells caravans across the country and has an annual turnover of around £7 million. An additional 13 jobs are under threat at the firm, which has a strong reputation in the sector . . . more

Book deal signed
King’s Lynn-based educational distributor Pandora Books has acquired Stevenage-based educational book distributor Badger Publishing in a deal where the regional corporate finance team of PKF headed by partner Keith Ferguson was instrumental. Pandora Books managing director Martin Green, who headed a management buy out of Pandora Books in April 2008 said: “The merger with Badger creates a fantastic opportunity to combine our expertise to save busy teachers precious time by offering even better selections of titles and enhanced customer service.” The company is funded by private equity group Key Capital Partners. Badger Publishing employs around 15 staff, led by general manager and publisher David Jamieson, who will remain with the business . . . more

Jobs market weakens
A further weakening of the jobs market, driven by a sharp decline in demand for staff emerges in a report from the Recruitment and Employment Confederation and KPMG. Their December Report on Jobs survey showed placements and billings continued to fall sharply in both the permanent and temporary sectors and demand for staff fell at series record rates. Vacancies fell across all sectors except nursing/medical/care. Brendon Howlett, head of people services for KPMG in East Anglia, said : "These latest figures only serve to confirm the most pessimistic projections for the UK jobs market. They are also a lead indicator for a rapidly declining employment situation which is not yet reflected in the government's current employment statistics . . . more


Leisure group Ocean Parcs is to close the Pontin's holiday centre at Hemsby on the Norfolk coast in January after it identified the need for significant investment while facing falling bookings and rising costs. The loss threatens 55 jobs of which around 20 are permanent. The firm’s remaining Pontin’s centres, including Pakefield near Lowestoft will remain open . . . more

Businesses expect the current downturn to be worse than the early 1990s, according to a report from BDO Stoy Hayward LLP. The report’s output index, a measure of order book strength and short run turnover expectations, has fallen from 91.3 in November to 89.0 in December and below the 90 level which marked the trough of the previous economic cycle in 1991. Peter Hemington, partner at BDO Stoy Hayward, said: “With order books for UK businesses collapsing and volumes for the next quarter rapidly diminishing, businesses now have concrete evidence that the downturn will be worse than it was in the early nineties.” . . . more

Stuart Jones, a solicitor at law firm Birketts LLP, has been appointed as the Registrar of the Church of England Diocese of Norwich, and Legal Secretary to the Bishop of Norwich, with effect from 1 January. In conjunction with Stuart's appointment, Birketts hopes to undertake a range of legal work for the Norwich Diocesan Board of Finance . . . more


Stuart Thomas, regional development director at Norwich-based Cotman Housing, – one of three housing associations which make up the development company Iceni Homes – has retired after four years of close involvement with Iceni, supporting its growth as a leading eastern region development company . . . more

Ipswich & Suffolk Small Business Association’s (ISSBA) says its annual exhibition is set to be bigger than ever in 2009, thanks to a new tie-up with Suffolk Chamber of Commerce. The exhibition regularly attracts an audience of up to 1000. It is set to nearly double in size with stands being offered to the 370 ISSBA members as well as Chamber of Commerce members. The event will be held at Trinity Park on Wednesday 29th April 2009 and will have an emphasis on helping young and start up businesses. www.issba.co.uk . . . more

With a view to bringing the latest concept in professional keyboards within the reach of keen amateurs, Minima Design has completed a joint project with Cambridge Micro Engineering (CME) and Norwich based C-Thru Music. The result, to be launched in January 09, is the AXIS 49, a USB “plug and play” version of the revolutionary AXIS 64 hexagonal electronic keyboard . . . more