Rather than national champions, firms now want to be European champions, says Johannes Huth of Kohlberg, Kravis and Roberts, an American private-equity firm.
That is the easy and seductive argument of Europe's "national champions"—firms like E.ON of Germany and EDF of France.
Some of England's most economically challenged regions also have the highest concentration of what Experian calls "business champions", firms that have big economic potential, with the North East, Yorkshire and the Humber in the lead.
"But, to ensure that businesses can be properly supported and to bring together the measures that have been announced, we are disappointed that there were no plans to look into setting up a small business administration - a department to champion small firms at the heart of government with a cabinet level minister".
In 1967, Adair and Ling devised Champion House (1967-68), a BBC drama series about a family-run textile firm.
There was hardly a soul in the house who did not make the champion a firm favourite.
Flack worried that his boss might see the excursion as unduly frivolous but, when he returned to London as a double Olympic champion, the firm were more than impressed.
Yet as a sop to France and Germany, which are staunchly opposed to dismantling their national energy champions, such firms have been given the option to separate the management of their grids, rather than sell them outright.Gaz de France (GDF) is in an especially tough spot.
China's Qiu Bo, the world champion and firm favourite coming into the final, had to settle for silver.
The visitors continued to press forward but the Scottish champions held firm.
