A roundup of today's other business stories in brief:

Rumours of Bausch & Lomb buyout

Shares of Bausch & Lomb surged more than 10 per cent yesterday amid market speculation that the eyecare products maker could be taken private in a leveraged buyout, traders said.

Bausch & Lomb could not be reached for comment.

The company, which employs 1,550 at its Waterford plant, has a market capitalisation of about $3 billion (€2.2 billion).

- (Reuters)

Production up 56% at Dragon Oil

Dragon Oil, whose main focus is the search for oil offshore from Turkmenistan, said average daily production increased 56 per cent in the first quarter.

The company said yesterday that average production in the first three months of the year was 26,943 barrels of oil per day, up from 17,260 a year earlier. However, the average price per barrel fell 2.4 per cent to $55.70 (€41).

NI small firm bank service criticised

Banks in Northern Ireland are still not providing a good enough service for small businesses, the Federation of Small Businesses said yesterday. While 70 per cent of small businesses were satisfied with their bank, there is a feeling that the banks do not understand the real needs of these firms.

Metro losses increase to $11.5m

Operating losses at Swedish newspaper group Metro International, co-publisher of the Metrofreesheet in Dublin, widened to $11.5 million (€8.47 million) in the first three months of this year, from $3.9 million in 2006.

Net sales rose 10 per cent to $102.5 million.

Outgoing chief executive Pelle Törnberg said the group was disappointed to report increasing losses.

Metro International owns 10 per cent of the Dublin Metrotitle with The Irish Times Ltd and Associated Newspapers, who each have a 45 per cent stake.

NIB appoints chief financial officer

National Irish Bank (NIB) has appointed Kim Tegner as its new chief financial officer. Mr Tegner was previously chief controller of the group finance division at Danske Bank, which owns NIB. He takes over from Alan Brady who has been appointed chief financial officer of Danica Pension Ireland.

Lundin Mining postpones agm

Lundin Mining, the Swedish company that owns the Galmoy mine in Co Kilkenny, has put back its annual general meeting to June 18th to allow shareholders to vote on the acquisition of Rio Narcea Gold Mines and Tenke Mining at the meeting.

Lundin said yesterday it had sent details of the Rio Narcea offer of five Canadian dollars (€3.28) a share to shareholders. It is offering an additional $1.04 for each warrant in Rio Narcea.

Blackrock price target lowered

Goodbody Stockbrokers has lowered its 12-month price target for property group Blackrock International Land by 14 per cent, citing the need for greater development of its existing land than initially anticipated. The broker lowered its target for the shares to 54 cent, from 63 cent. They are currently trading at about 47 cent.

It also attributed the change to a longer than expected timeframe for the development of the group's properties.

Dormant Accounts Board contracts

The Dormant Accounts Board has contracted three consultancy firms - Goodbody Economic Consultants, Indecon International Economic Consultants and EPS Consulting - to review strategies for the disbursement of the dormant accounts fund.