What the Sunday papers said
Pubs in Tyne & Wear have been barred from flying the flag of St George during the upcoming World Cup because safety experts claim they could pose a fire risk. Licensees have been told flags and bunting must be taken down if they are not fire resistant. Fire Service group safety manager Michael Neilson said he wanted people to enjoy the World Cup but he also wanted them to be safe. He also said pubs must not be overcrowded during the month-long football festival. - Sunday Express
News that a private equity bidder is circling Britvic has failed to breathe life into the soft drinks' group's shares. The shares closed down on the week at 211.5p, following last week's revelations in the Sunday Times that the group was being eyed up by French buyout firm PAI Partners. Shareholders have seen more than £150m wiped off the company's value since the end of February. Britvic has been hit by a collapse in sales of fizzy drinks and has issued two profits warnings in six months. - Sunday Times
US hotels group Starwood last week accepted a €600m (£452m) offer for champagne house Taittinger from French bank Crédit Agricole, backed by Pierre-Emmanuel Taittinger, deputy managing director and nephew of the company's chairman, Claude Taittinger. Eight bidders made it through to the final round to buy just the champagne house; other assets include a 75.9 per cent stake in Domaine Carneros, a California-based still and sparkling wine maker. - The Business
India has cried foul over the sale of champagne maker Taittinger, claiming that the nationality of the bidders affected the outcome of the process. Indian drinks giant United Breweries lost out in the bidding to Crédit Agricole (CA), who paid €600m (£452m) for the company. CA provides 70 per cent of Taittinger's loans and enjoyed widespread local support, including that of the Taittinger family. The French government denied race played a part in what it described as a 'shareholder matter'. A number of suppliers of grapes to Taittinger implied they would cease to work with the group if it fell into Indian hands. - Independent On Sunday
