Other stories in brief.
Software piracy in Ireland falls.
Software piracy in Ireland has fallen for the fourth consecutive year and, at 36 per cent, is now at the European average, according to the Business Software Alliance (BSA).
The BSA's annual global software piracy study, which is conducted by technology analysts IDC, estimates that losses to the industry from illegal software installed on personal computers in Ireland last year stood at almost €68 million.
Ireland is now placed 19th for the illegal use of software in the ranking of 102 nations worldwide.
The situation in Ireland has improved dramatically since 1999 when the rate stood at 56 per cent.
BT Ireland's chief to retire in July
BT Ireland has announced that its chief executive Danny McLaughlin will step down on July 1st next. Mr McLaughlin is retiring from BT after a 36-year career with the former British state phone company.
During his two years in his current role he oversaw the integration of BT's operations in the Republic and Northern Ireland under the BT Ireland banner.
He will be replaced by Chris Clark who is currently director for business transformation with BT retail.
Wind energy firm's plan for Canada
Finavera Renewables, an Irish wind energy company listed in Toronto, has submitted plans for 366 megawatts worth of wind energy projects in British Columbia. As part of the state's environmental assessment process, the company will carry out environmental studies, engineering design and analysis on the proposed projects and also consult with the local communities in the Peace Region, where they are due to be located.
If successful, the projects could provide renewable electricity to more than 100,000 Canadian homes.
Aminex to raise €24m in rights issue
Exploration group Aminex plans to raise as much as £16.8 million (€24.5 million) through a share placing and rights issue to fund the group's 2007 drilling programme in several countries including Tanzania, Egypt and Madagascar.
Aminex plans to sell 55.8 million new shares at 20 pence each and also offer existing shareholders the opportunity to participate in a one-for-six rights issue of up to 28.2 million new shares.
The price of both the placing and rights issue is at a 12 per cent discount to the closing price of the stock in London on May 14th.
Davy and Bridgewell are organising the placing.
Tyco to pay $3bn to settle claims
Tyco International will pay nearly $3 billion (€2.2 billion) - a record for a single company - to settle claims from disgruntled shareholders that its leadership engaged in massive accounting fraud and overstated income by $5.8 billion.
Dennis Kozlowski, the conglomerate's former chief executive, and Mark Swartz, former finance chief, were convicted in 2005 of looting the firm. They are serving terms of up to 25 years in prison. - (Financial Times service)
African Eagle signs mining deal
African Eagle has signed an agreement with Troll Mining, a private Tanzanian company, allowing the AIM-listed exploration group to explore four of Troll's prospecting licenses.
African Eagle has already identified significant uranium, gold and copper anomalies from archive data covering the licences.
