A round-up of today's other stories in brief.
Canadian firm opens base in Shannon
Tranzeo Wireless, the Canadian manufacturer of wireless broadband communications systems, has opened its European base in Shannon.
Founder and chief executive Jim Tocher said delivery times and shipping costs for European clients would be reduced as a result of the expansion.
Dieter Kloepper, general manager of the Shannon office, said that, in the long term, the firm may consider setting up a research and development facility in Shannon.
Rigney Dolphin staff to rise to 1,100
Rigney Dolphin, a provider of customer support centres, yesterday announced plans to increase its workforce to 1,100 as its new €5 million contact centre was officially opened in Waterford.
The company, which currently employs 850 people, said the 1,100 figure was 100 more than originally anticipated.
However, when plans for the new centre at the IDA Business Park were first announced in May, chief executive Celine Fitzgerald told The Irish Times that, over the coming 12 months, 200 new jobs would be created on top of 900 existing positions.
Carroll's ICG stake reaches 26.08%
Property developer Liam Carroll has taken his stake in Irish Continental Group (ICG) to 26.08 per cent, spending a further €275,500 on the company's shares.
Mr Carroll bought 10,000 shares at a price of €25.75. Yesterday the stock closed unchanged at that price.
Two new creches to create 70 jobs
The Park Academy Childcare Group yesterday announced the opening of two purpose-built creches in Dublin and Co Wicklow, creating 70 new jobs.
Examiner appointed to Ardmore
The High Court has appointed an examiner to Ardmore Technologies, which designs, installs and maintains local and wide-area phone networks and employs 15 people.
Mr Justice Peter Kelly yesterday made the order, appointing Neil Hughes as examiner to the Waterford firm. Mr Hughes had been appointed interim examiner to the company last month, on the unanimous petition of the directors, after it encountered cash flow problems and difficulties on certain projects.
Postbank opens new head office
Postbank, the banking joint venture between An Post and Belgian bank Fortis, yesterday opened its new head office in Dún Laoghaire, creating 50 jobs.
Postbank said the new positions would be on top of the 180 people it already employed at its core operations and customer contact centre in Athlone.
When it was launched at the end of April, Postbank said it planned to create 100 new positions and take on 150 staff from existing An Post operations. The 50 announced yesterday are in addition to these positions.
GSK appoints chief executive
GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), the world's second-biggest pharmaceutical group, yesterday appointed its youngest chief executive - Briton Andrew Witty (43).
Mr Witty, currently head of GSK's European division, will take over from Jean-Pierre Garnier when he steps down in May next year in a move that signals a shift towards a more youthful and internationally oriented management. - (Financial Times service)
Rise in European speculative defaults
Moody's yesterday reported an increase in the European speculative-grade default rate to 2.8 per cent at the end of third quarter, from 2.2 per cent three months earlier and from 0.8 per cent at the same point last year.
