GREENE KING MAKES IT BIG WITH HELP FROM BELHAVEN

UK pub group and brewer Greene King, which leases over 2,000 pubs in the UK, shows impressive half-year results with a 23% rise, a record for the company. The firm chalks up their success to help from recent acquisitions which include Belhaven, Laurel pub chain and brewer Ridley’s. Although Belhaven only contributed for two weeks to day’s results, Chief Rooney Anand says synergy savings from the Dunbar-based group were effective. “Together, we predict these synergies to total approximately £3 million in 2006/7, rising to approximately £5 million pounds over the next two years,” said Rooney. Greene King’s brands include IPA, Abbot Ale and Old Speckled Hen which increased revenues 13%.