Business news in brief 02/05/2012 A roundup of the latest business news: Simmons" completes four agreements; Rolls-Royce lands Pratt & Whitney contract; Exactive doubles staff and Scot firms pick up US orders. Simmons" £340m energy deals Simmons & Co, the Aberdeen-based corporate adviser, yesterday described the outlook for the energy sector as "very buoyant" as it said it had completed four agreements with a total deal value of £340 million during the first quarter. Deals in the period included the purchase of Aberdeen-based rig cooling services specialist Optima by Tetra Technologies. Nick Dalgarno, managing director at Simmons, said: "Following a strong first quarter, we have several deals nearing completion and more on the horizon, all of which paint an exciting picture of a very buoyant market." £194m Lightning strike for Rolls Engine maker Rolls-Royce has landed a $315 million (£194m) contract with aircraft designer Pratt & Whitney. Rolls will supply its LiftSystem technology for 17 F-35 Lightning II aircraft. It is the only company in the world to produce the advanced technology that enables aircraft to perform short take-offs and vertical landings. Programme director Neil Mehta said: "Rolls-Royce continues to focus on increasing efficiency as we provide this vital capability to the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter programme." Exactive adds staff on turnover up 60% A FIFE IT and telecoms company has more than doubled its staff to 20 in less than 18 months after increasing its turnover by 69 per cent. Dunfermline-based Exactive, which has received advice from Business Gateway Fife, saw its annual turnover hit £1.4 million in April after securing contracts with Chivas Regal, Scottish Borders Council and the Scottish Government. The firm has also opened an English outpost, in Reading. The business was set up six years ago by Craig Arbuthnott, Robert Hutchison and Scott Millar. US trade mission is a £2.7m winner Scottish firms picked up £2.7 million of orders on a trade visit to Chicago and New York to coincide with Scotland Week, it emerged yesterday. A dozen Glasgow-based SMEs will share the contracts, gained during the trip, organised by the Scottish Council for Development and Industry (SCDI) and led by the Lord Provost of Glasgow, Bob Winter. SCDI's international director, Jane Gotts, said: "The US is Scotland's single largest market and innovative and creative companies are well placed to take advantage of the improving economic climate."