Here are the business stories making the headlines across Scotland and the UK this morning.
US and Iran send conflicting signals on peace prospects
Conflicting signals from leaders of the United States, Iran and Israel on Monday left a murky picture of whether peace talks were underway, and what prospects there were for ending the war in the Middle East any time soon.
President Trump told reporters that the United States and Iran were engaging in “very strong talks” toward resolving the war which had produced “many, like 15 points,” of agreement. He said he was postponing until Friday his threat to attack Iranian power plants while talks take place.
The speaker of Iran’s Parliament denied on social media that any such negotiations were underway, accusing Trump of issuing false statements to calm rattled energy markets.
BrewDog had debts of more than £550million when Ellon firm entered administration
The administrators of Ellon beer firm BrewDog estimate the company’s debts at more than £550million.
BrewDog’s brand and certain assets, including its Ellon brewery, were acquired from administration by Tilray Brands for £33million earlier this month. The deal saw 733 staff transfer to the new owner – but almost 500 jobs were lost as most of its bars closed.
The administration followed several years of multi-million-pound losses.
Cosmetics giant Estée Lauder in merger talks with owner of Jean Paul Gaultier and Rabanne
US cosmetics giant Estée Lauder is discussing a potential merger with Puig, the Spanish company behind best-selling fragrances such as Rabanne and Jean Paul Gaultier.
Estée Lauder is one of the world's leading manufacturers of skin care, make-up and fragrances, owning brands such as Clinique, Bobbi Brown and Tom Ford.
A deal could create a $40billion (£30bn) beauty giant, according to Financial Times, although Estee Lauder said that no final decision had been made.
Royal Mail staff say they were told to hide post to look like delivery targets met
Postal workers from across the UK have told the BBC they are being asked to move or hide mail from senior bosses so it looks like delivery targets are being met.
They told BBC Your Voice they are often told by managers "take the mail for a ride" when they raise that they have too many parcels to have time to deliver letters as well.
Royal Mail bosses are due to answer questions from MPs on Tuesday about the ongoing postal delays impacting millions of people across the UK.
Vet prescription fees to be capped at £21
Written prescription fees from the vets will be capped at £21 and vets will have to publish price lists for services, the UK's competition watchdog has said.
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) also said a price comparison website would be introduced to help boost competition and drive down prices faced by consumers.
The measures come after an in-depth investigation by the watchdog, which found prices had been rising at nearly twice the rate of inflation.