Etihad Airways has indicated that it is willing to sell its stake in Aer Lingus if the Government backs IAG's offer for the Irish airline.
Speaking to the Financial Times, chief executive James Hogan said: “Our investment in Aer Lingus has been a sound one and we are heading for a great return if the IAG bid is approved by the Irish government.”
The Abu Dhabi-based company initially bought its 3 percent stake in Aer Lingus three years ago, and added an additional 4.9 percent last year.
Aer Lingus chief executive, Stephen Kavanagh indicated yesterday that the state will make a decision about the IAG bid early in April.
Alan Joyce, the Irishman who heads up the Australian airline Qantas said he believes IAG should be allowed buy Aer Lingus. Speaking at a major aviation conference in the Powerscourt Hotel yesterday Joyce said Qantas was a very big fan of consolidation.
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Financial regulator Cyril Roux says that two thirds of bad loans belong to SMEs.
Speaking at the Chartered Accountants Ireland Leinster Society lunch, he said that public attention has focused too much on bad mortgage loans.
Much of the SME indebtedness is linked to property investment.
Mr Roux says that there are strong prospects that two thirds of these SME loans will return to profitability over time.
After an ad hoc approach at first, banks are now actively trying to resolve distressed commercial loan portfolios - but many cases will involve separation of legacy property debt from the viable business, and some will end in court.
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Realex, the Dublin-based online payments processing company has been sold to its giant US counterpart, Global Payments.
Realex has offices in London and Paris, it was established 15 years ago by husband and wife team Colm and Niamh Lyon, whom it is reported will earn €90m from the deal
It processed up to €29bn worth of transactions last year - it includes Vodafone, Aer Lingus, Aviva and Paddy Power amongst its customers
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Yahoo has announced that it will invest $12m (€10.9) in a new EMEA headquarters in Dublin.
This will increase the company's Irish workforce from 320 to 450. The 78,000sq ft offices will be located at the Point Village in Dublin's docklands.
Yahoo came to Ireland in 2003 - the Dublin positions include HR, finance, customer support, and ad operation roles.
Yahoo chief financial officer Ken Goldman commented on the Irish operation: "We are fundamentally here because of the talent pool, the stability of the country, the fact that it is part of the EU, and the overall sense of excitement and optimism that exists in the country."
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German consumer confidence has hit a 13 year high - the weakening of the euro, and continued low energy prices have fuelled this confidence.
The monthly index is tracked by GfK – it says that: "Income expectations and a willingness to spend are rising in tandem with the brighter economic prospects."
The company forecasts that confidence will continue to rise in the coming month.
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The midlands has long been known as the 'Workshop of England' and is particularly associated with the motor industry.
The industry is reviving there, but in a sign of the changes over the past generation in the UK - it’s principally under foreign ownership.
Indian-owned luxury car manufacturer Jaguar Land Rover announced yesterday that £650m is being invested to build two new plants near Coventry – one to build engines for Jaguar/Land Rover - and one to manufacture new iconic black cabs for the Chinese-owned London Taxi Company.
