A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Trauma firm wins seedcorn competition
EnBio, a Cork-based company which develops technology to reduce trauma and recovery times for patients of medical implant surgery, has been named this year's winner of InterTrade Ireland's All-Island Seedcorn Business Competition.
Chosen from eight finalists throughout Ireland, EnBio is the fourth winner of the competition run by InterTradeIreland's Equity Network.
The Dublin winners were Aonta Technology and Blue Face, Leinster was Blueacre Technology, Connacht was Quaternity, Cork was EnBio, Munster was Park Magic, Northern Ireland was InspecVision and Belfast was Aetopia.
The competition was open to individuals or groups involved in a new venture and seeking early stage and start-up funding, who must have been in existence for no more than three years on September 29th.
Accountancy firms talk merger
Accountancy companies PKF Ryan Glennon and Baker Tilly O'Hare have confirmed they are in negotiations to merge. The deal would place a new firm in the top 10 accountancy firms in Ireland with an estimated turnover of about €12 million.
Baker Tilly O'Hare employs 45 staff, while PKF Ryan Glennon has a workforce of 75. The merged firm would employ about 140 staff, with key specialists joining in advance of the merger.
The discussions are expected to be concluded in early spring.
First Choice profits increase
First Choice Holidays, which owns Falcon/JWT Holidays in Ireland, posted an increase in profits yesterday.
The company, which is in talks to sell its package holiday arm, said full-year pre-tax profits were up 2 per cent on last year to £117.2 million (€173 million).
First Choice said bird flu scares and recent airport security alerts would affect full-year profits.
It said it had been a difficult year for the leisure travel industry, but still reported a 35 per cent increase in bookings for long-haul destinations.
It also warned of challenging times ahead, although it said continued demand for long-haul breaks had sparked an order for two new Boeing 787 aircraft.
First Choice does not provide a breakdown of performance in its Irish division. - (Additional reporting by PA)
Fexco British HQ opens in London
Kerry-based global payments company Fexco, opened its new British headquarters at Hammersmith Road in London yesterday, with international rugby player Ronan O'Gara performing the official ribbon-cutting ceremony.
The new facility will house Fexco's 110-strong British workforce.
ESB signs deal to power tunnel
The National Roads Authority has signed a €3.5 million contract with ESB Independent Energy to supply power to the port tunnel.
ESB Independent Energy will provide more than 25,000,000kWh of electricity to two tunnel operations buildings on the north side of Dublin.
This equates to enough power to supply about 7,000 households a year.
Centra opens 400th store
Centra, which is owned by the Musgrave Group, opened its 400th store in the Republic yesterday. The 260 sq metre (2,800 sq ft) shop is based in Dublin's north inner city. Forty-eight new Centra stores, with a combined retail turnover of €120 million, have been opened so far this year.
