Here are the business stories making the headlines across Scotland and the UK this morning.
Sir Tom Hunter returns to retail with stake in The Body Shop
Sir Tom Hunter has made a return to the high street retail sector where he made his original fortune as it emerged he is part of the consortium which brought The Body Shop out of administration.
The entrepreneur and philanthropist made his name by building up the Sports Division chain before selling it to JJB Sports for £290million in 1998.
In subsequent years, he invested in a range of high street and retail businesses including USC, Cruise, House of Fraser, Office, BHS, and Dobbies.
Stewart Milne Group administration extended for a further 12 months
The administration for Stewart Milne Group and its subsidiaries has been extended for a further 12 months.
A request made by administrators Teneo to extend the process until January 8 2026, has been approved by the Court of Session in Edinburgh.
Teneo had previously warned it expected to extend the period to “enable sale of the unrealised assets and, in the case of SMG, the conclusion of employment tribunal claims."
Read the full story in the P&J.
Post Office spent £132m defending itself at inquiry
The Post Office has spent £132million of taxpayer money defending itself at the inquiry into the wrongful conviction of hundreds of sub-postmasters, according to the latest available figures.
The revelation in the company's annual report comes after the two-and-a-half years of evidence hearings for the inquiry ended this week.
The figure covers the legal and running costs from its start up until 31 March 2024, but it does not include money spent after that date.
British car production falls to lowest level since 1980
The number of cars rolling off British production lines fell by almost a third in November to the lowest level for the month since 1980, amid industry upheaval and weak consumer demand.
A total of 64,216 units were manufactured in the month, down 27,711 on November 2023, in the ninth consecutive month of decline, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
Of those, just under a third (19,165) were battery electric or hybrid vehicles, representing a 45.5% fall year-on-year.
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