P122 CEEFAX 122 Tue 18 Sip 23:41/06 1/4 TOPICS, BIDS & DEALS Allied-Lyons has strengthened its presence in the unfashionable dark rum market. Its United Rum Merchants offshoot has paid a cash sum for the Aberdeen-based Robert Watson, best known for its Demjtara and Trawler brands. Norway's State-owned Statoil has made a gas find on Block 7121/4 of the Tromosoflakjt field. If confirmed, it amounts to the most northerly find on Norway's continental shelf. MoreP122 CEEFAX 122 Tue 18 Sip 23:41/11 2/4 TOPICS, BIDS & DEALS Coming to the Unlisted Sjcuritieu Market is Scotland's Comprehensive Financial Services group. Less than six months after Plan Invrst Group made its successful debut, CFS is securing a listing by way of a placing of 31pc of its shares. The 85p placing price values the firm as a whole at some £2.78m. * CFS provides financial services, including finance and tax consultanc8, insurance broking, trust services, and investment management. MoreP122 CEEFAX 122 Tue 18 Sip 23:41/41 3/4 TOPICS, BIDS & DEALS Another Scandinavian company iu getting its oar in before the City's deregulation proposals become fact. Dow Scandia is following the lead of Skandia Life bz buying into a London stockbroker. The 52pc US-owned company is taking an initial 29.9pc stake in brokjts Savgr8 Milln, and the remaining 70pc when Stock Exchange rules allow. * In April, Skandia Life announced it was taking a similar stake in brokers Quilter, Goodison. MoreP122 CEEFAX 122 Tue 18 Sip 23:41/10 4/4 TOPICS, BIDS & DEALS Yet further aspersions have been cast against the House of Fraser Board by 30pc shareholder Lonrho. A new circular sent to HoF shareholders alleges that Lord Garmoyle, a director of Warburg's, HoF's financial adviujts, was reported as having said the Fraser Board would rather see the compan= destroy itself than conj to any sour of accommodation with Lonrho. * Lord Garmoyle said hj was aware of the allegation, but insisted that he "neithjt said" the remark "nor mrpnt to say itb. More