PRESS DIGEST - British business - July 21

The Times

BIG COMPANIES DELAY SUPPLIERS' CASH.

The Federation of Small Business (FSB) says that small firms are experiencing the biggest squeeze on their cashflows since the early 1990s as big companies are now delaying payment to their smaller suppliers by more than 100 days. The FSB says that the situation has worsened dramatically in the past few weeks and it took the unprecedented step of naming Alliance Boots as one of the worst payers.

NEED TO KNOW: ENGINEERING

BAE Systems(BAES.L) has won two contracts for 813 of its South African RG-series mine-protected vehicles. The larger contract has been awarded by the US Marine Corps through General Dynamics Canada and is for 773 RG31s. The second contract is for 40 RG33s for the US special forces. The total worth of the contracts is about 150 million pounds.

NEED TO KNOW: NATURAL RESOURCES