LONDON, May 31 (Reuters) - The boss of Europe's biggest homeimprovements retailer Kingfisher said on Saturday that avote for independence from the United Kingdom would makeScotland a less attractive place in which to invest.
Kingfisher, which operates the DIY chain B&Q across Britainas well as Castorama and Brico Depot in France, is the latestbusiness to warn on the implications of a "yes" to independencevote in a referendum on Sept. 18.
"It would put a pause on everything," Chief ExecutiveOfficer Ian Cheshire said in comments reported by Sky News.
"If we have differences on VAT, currency, it just putseverything into hibernation as we try to figure out what it willmean," he said adding though that B&Q would not leave Scotlandif Scots vote for secession.
"It would be more complicated, probably more costly and lesslikely to attract investment, given we could invest in 11 othercountries around the world," he added.
The formal campaign for a Scottish independence vote beganon Friday with polls currently showing Scots are unlikely tochoose to end the 307-year-old union with England.
The chief executive of drinks giant Diageo Plc saidon Thursday that remaining part of the European Union was"extremely important" for the firm and for the Scotch whiskyindustry.
Scottish nationalist leader Alex Salmond has said anindependent Scotland would seek to become an EU member in itsown right. British Prime Minister David Cameron has promised torenegotiate membership of the bloc if he is elected in nextyear's general election and then hold an in/out referendum on EUmembership by the end of 2017. (Reporting By Costas Pitas; editing by Stephen Addison)
Kingfisher (KGF)
