41.   The family-owned firm has its head office in Sefton Street and existing production facilities nearby.

42.   Mr Foxon himself was attacked with a crowbar at the same site just last week and the firm has had to double its guard at the retail park.

43.   Other firms have lengthy track records in the Middle East.

44.   In recessionary times most British firms have had other priorities.

45.   In such a case the firm may have to distribute through a middleman because it cannot afford to employ a field sales force.

46.   The firm has special expertise or knowledge of producing a product that is not available in a foreign market.

47.   He claimed the firm had had previous difficulties in getting paid by the council, with one school not paying for five months.

48.   Fortunately the firm had a gym club and sports facilities.

49.   All three firms already have units that put together packages of bonds that function like insurance.

50.   American firms have the stock-picking brains but lack the capital needed for the systems and the technology to compete and distribute globally.