A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Horizon may make bid for software firm
Listed technology supplier Horizon confirmed yesterday that it has entered talks with training software company WBT that could lead to it making an offer for the business.
In a statement, Horizon said it had entered initial negotiations with WBT. "Such discussions are at a preliminary stage and there is no certainty that any transaction will occur."
Horizon supplies IT services and products to mainly large corporate clients in the Republic. It is listed on the Dublin and London stock exchanges.
WBT is an Irish company that specialises in developing and selling training software that covers issues like compliance, regulation and business development. Its clients include Standard Life, Bayer Healthcare, Zurich Group and Volvo.
It was recently named e-learning company of the year at the Digital Media Awards in Dublin.
According to reports at the weekend, Horizon would need to pay at least €30 million for WBT's backers to break even.
CRH to revamp US management
CRH, the building materials group, plans to rejig the top management team at its US holding company Oldcastle in July after the retirement of its chief executive Joe McCullough.
Oldcastle Materials chief executive Tom Hill will succeed Mr McCullough as head of the Oldcastle. Mr Hill will be replaced by the unit's chief operations officer, Mark Towe.
Doug Black, currently head of the Oldcastle architectural products unit, will succeed Mr Towe. Mr Black will be replaced by Bill Sandbrook, president of Oldcastle Materials West.
AIB director buys 100,000 shares
AIB non-executive director Robert Wilmers has spent $2.3 million (€1.8 million) on the purchase of 100,000 shares in the bank. Mr Wilmers bought the shares in the form of ADRs on May 17th and 18th.
Anglo executive profits on options
Brian Murphy, director of treasury at Anglo Irish Bank, has made a paper profit of almost €900,000 after exercising share options and selling a portion of the stock.
Mr Murphy exercised options over 100,000 shares at €3.105 each, paying €310,500. He later sold 25,000 shares at €12.35, raising €308,750 before fees and retained the remainder.
Fellow Anglo Irish director Lar Bradshaw purchased 39,500 shares at €12.45 each, paying a total of €491,775. Pat Whelan, head of group risk at Anglo, meanwhile, bought 3,900 shares at €12.53, paying a total of €48,867. Anglo Irish closed at €11.85 last night, down 70 cent.
Kerry chairman invests in group
Kerry Group chairman Denis Buckley has spent €87,750 on 5,000 shares in the company. Mr Buckley bought the shares yesterday, paying €17.55 per unit. Kerry Group fell by €1.10 to close at €16.90 last night.
Airline alliances plan Chinese deals
The three global airline alliances - Star, Oneworld and SkyTeam - are expected to secure their strategic partnerships with Chinese carriers next year following the decision by Air China, the Chinese flag carrier, to join Star. The tie-up with Star follows months of uncertainty created by Air China's growing bilateral links with Cathay Pacific, the de facto Hong Kong flag-carrier and a leading member of the Oneworld alliance, which includes American Airlines, British Airways and Qantas. - (Financial Times service)
