A round-up of today's other stories in brief.

Receivers appointed to Coltrane CLO

Joint receivers have been appointed to a Dublin investment vehicle, Coltrane CLO, by a subsidiary of Deutsche Bank. KPMG accountants, Ray Jackson in Dublin and Richard Heis in London, have been appointed joint receivers to the investment company which was used to finance leveraged buyouts of companies.

The value of the Dublin firm's assets when it was launched in November 2006 was €498 million. However, falling asset values due to the credit crunch prompted Deutsche Trustee Company, trustee to the Dublin company, to appoint the receivers. London investment firm Deerfield Capital Management acted as the company's portfolio manager. One of Coltrane's largest investors is Bank of America.

Wedgwood appointment

Waterford Wedgwood has appointed Mark Downie as group company secretary. Mr Downie joined Wedgwood in 1988, before the company was integrated with Waterford. He replaced Patrick Dowling, who retires at the end of this month.

CRH might buy Ancon

CRH is considering the purchase of Yorkshire-based construction product company Ancon, according to a release from the UK's competition authority.

The Office of Fair Trading said yesterday that it was "considering whether arrangements are in progress or in contemplation which, if carried into effect, will result in the creation of a relevant merger situation" in relation to CRH and Ancon. CRH made no comment in relation to the matter.

Ancon, which makes and supplies structural fixings, is owned by Tyco.

Powerflute in joint venture

Powerflute, a Finnish packaging maker chaired by Irish businessman Dermot Smurfit, has formed a joint venture with a Finnish rival to procure wood for its Savon Sellu mill.

The joint venture with Myllykoski will service the two companies' annual wood requirements of 2.5 million cubic metres, resulting in greater efficiencies and security of supply for the milling duo.

Powerflute said in a statement that the move would increase its need for working capital but have a positive impact on its costs in the longer term.

Minister hails Tyndall

Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Micheál Martin yesterday hailed the success of Cork's Tyndall National Institute in breaking two science world records as evidence of its standing as a leading global Information and Technology Communications research centre.

Tyndall researchers have successfully developed a record capacity for a single optical transmitter over 1,200km of optical fibre which will help answer the growing demand for greater bandwidth with high reliability and at a low cost, said Mr Martin.

And other researchers have, in co-operation with a Tyndall spin-out company, SensL developed a silicon fabrication process that makes a revolutionary low light detector which will

help the company grow its business in the point of care medical diagnostics markets.

Coulson and Rexam

A news item yesterday wrongly said financier Paul Coulson owns drinks can group Rexam. In fact, Mr Coulson owns Rexam's former glass-making unit.