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Commission approves €390 million Italian rescue loan to Acciaierie d'Italia under EU State aid rules

On February 10, 2026, the European Commission officially approved a €390 million rescue loan for Acciaierie d’Italia (ADI), the operator of Italy’s largest steelworks in Taranto, clearing the path…

James Watt could plough £10m towards BrewDog buyout

Reports suggest that James Watt is preparing a £10 million comeback bid to regain control of BrewDog, as the struggling craft beer giant faces a potential sale.  Backed by private equity, the proposed…

Graphilm Restores Ownership After Cyber Group Studios Liquidation

Italian-based Graphilm Entertainment has regained full ownership and returned to independent operation following the liquidation of its French former parent company, Cyber Group Studios. After the French…

Scottish rocket startup nears collapse despite £26m in taxpayer loans

Rocket startup Orbex is on the brink of collapse after failing to secure a rescue deal or fresh investment, with its Danish subsidiary already having filed for bankruptcy in January 2026. The UK company,…

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Scottish rocket startup nears collapse despite £26m in taxpayer loans
Rocket startup Orbex is on the brink of collapse after failing to secure a rescue deal or fresh investment, with its Danish subsidiary already having filed for bankruptcy in January 2026. The UK company, based in the Highlands, is preparing to enter administration, as of mid-February, putting jobs at risk and jeopardizing the UK’s goal of a homegrown space launch.
 
Despite receiving £26 million in government loans since last year, Orbex has struggled with a scale-up funding gap, typical of the capital-intensive aerospace sector. Plans to launch its low-carbon "Prime" rocket from the Shetland Islands this year are now in doubt after merger talks with Germany's The Exploration Company fell through.
 
While it is reported that rival firm Skyrora has expressed interest in acquiring some assets, the potential failure marks a significant blow to Scotland’s burgeoning space industry and raises questions regarding the effectiveness of taxpayer-funded support for high-risk tech ventures.
 
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