Fresh from our Lincolnshire correspondent comes the news that Christian Salvesen is due to be hauled in front of the beak for alleged environmental problems at one of its sites.
In fact the firm is due to appear next Wednesday at Bourne, Lincs magistrates court on the following charges:
1. On or about 4 July 2006 you did cause poisonous, noxious or polluting matter to enter controlled waters, namely the Tunnel Bank Drain at Bourne, Lincolnshire.
Contrary to section 85(1) and section 85(6) Water Resources Act 1991
2. On or about 13 July 2006 you did cause poisonous, noxious or polluting matter to enter controlled waters, namely the Partition Drain at Bourne, Lincolnshire.
Contrary to section 85(1) and section 85(6) Water Resources Act 1991
3. On or about 24 July 2006 you did cause poisonous, noxious or polluting matter to enter controlled waters, namely the Partition Drain at Bourne, Lincolnshire.
Contrary to section 85(1) and section 85(6) Water Resources Act 1991
Nature of offences: Discharge of process effluent from vegetable factory.
More as we get it. News that is, not the effluent.
Of course it's entirely unrelated but Salvesen's share price is continuing its unrelenting slide - currently at 57p. Compare this to December last year when it was at the heady heights of over 75p a share. So in under 12 months the firm has seen around 25% wiped off its value. Of course the question now becomes: is Salvesen ripe for a takeover now or do the circling vultures wait until it's sorted out its problems - notably its UK transport operation - before dipping into their pockets?
Of course, that leads you to wonder as to who will splash the cash. There's an obvious list of candidates out there who could buy it - Kuehne + Nagel, Wincanton, Deutsche Bahn, even Norbert at a push - and of course you wonder if TDG's chief exec David Garman still looks longingly at Salvesen, bats away a tear and wonders what might have been...