Irish rugby will not go on an overseas spending spree for galacticos when the IRFU gets its cash windfall from CVC Capital Partners, Munster CEO Ian Flanagan has warned.

The Financial Times has reported that CVC is “plotting an ambitious reshaping of global rugby” that started with the 2018 acquisition of a 27% holding in England’s Premiership Rugby.

What’s motivating Eddie Jones?

Andy Farrell has experienced the cruel extremes of Anglo-Irish rugby conflict from both sides, for England in Dublin and Ireland in London.

Ireland’s first €1m-a-year rugby player could arrive over the next 18 months, according to one of the country’s leading player agents.

The chief executives of the Six Nations renewed talks in London yesterday aimed at finalising an offer designed to change the face of the game. Having already forked out some €400m to buy stakes in the English Premiership and PRO14, the private equity firm CVC Partners are willing to pay the Six Nations almost as much again for a share of the tournament’s commercial rights.

When rugby went professional — officially, at least — in 1995, Shannon won the first of their four-in-a-row AIL titles.

L'Oreal has entered into "exclusive" talks to sell The Body Shop to Brazilian cosmetics manufacturer Natura Cosmeticos in a deal which could be worth €1bn.

An Irish-American telecoms millionaire reached out to the Home Sweet Home campaign, the group behind the recent occupation of Apollo House.

CRH has submitted bids for assets put up for sale by cement makers Holcim and Lafarge ahead of their planned merger.

European pay-TV group Sky has agreed to sell a controlling stake in Sky Bet to CVC Capital Partners in a deal which values the online betting business at £800 million (€1.1bn), with Sky retaining a 20% stake.

A sports betting business formed in 2001 was today valued at £800m after broadcaster Sky sold a controlling stake in the operation.

“I think it’s a disaster. We don’t want begging bowls. If people can’t afford to be in Formula One they have to find something else to do.”

The threat of a boycott of the United States Grand Prix is firmly on the table following a meeting of the owners of Lotus, Force India and Sauber.

Private equity firms are circling Bayer’s €10bn plastics business, hoping to divert the German drugmaker from its plan to list the division, two people familiar with the matter said yesterday.

Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone will discover later on Tuesday whether a settlement offer to end his bribery trial has been accepted.

Eircom Group’s advisers have approached some of Europe’s largest private-equity firms as Ireland’s former phone monopoly weighs a sale or a return to the stock market, according to people with knowledge of the matter.

Bernie Ecclestone has revealed he has held talks that could see him buy back Formula One.

Irish Aircraft lessor Avolon is preparing for an initial public offering this year, according to sources.

Plans for a stock market flotation of Formula One motor racing remain stalled, its top shareholder said yesterday, as F1’s chief executive Bernie Ecclestone faces legal action that could break his long grip on the sport.

Motorsport boss Bernie Ecclestone appeared at a High Court trial in London today to deny allegations that he made a ”corrupt bargain” to stay at the top of Formula 1 racing.

Warranties specialist Domestic & General has been snapped up in a £750 million joint takeover by private equity firm CVC and its own management.

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has described Formula One as being “unimaginable” without Bernie Ecclestone.

Gambling website Betfair was today said to be mulling a £140m (€166.2m) payout to shareholders as part of its defence against a hostile takeover.

Cheltenham punters have put a dent in the profits of bookmakers Ladbrokes, which yesterday warned investors it expected annual operating profit to fall after a poor performance from horse racing and online gaming in the first quarter.

Shares in Marks & Spencer surged today on speculation that the retailer is an £8bn bid target for Middle Eastern investors.

The owner of the AA, the roadside assistance group, is understood to prefer a public float of the company, rather than its disposal via a trade sale, as has been speculated upon of late.

The AA and Saga’s five-year marriage is in danger of coming to an end after its owner launched a strategic review, it was reported today.

Aviation entrepreneur, Dómhnal Slattery has confirmed that his Dublin-based €4bn Avolon aircraft leasing business is profitable less than two years after launching in 2010.

London’s leading shares index took a fresh beating today as continued deadlock over America’s budget deficit added to worries about European debt.

Insurance tycoon Clive Cowdery, whose recent acquisitions have included Friends Provident and parts of Axa UK, has failed with an attempt to land the UK’s biggest owner of “zombie” insurance funds.

THE ISEQ index advanced 16.25 points to 2,604.54 yesterday.

START-UP costs totalling $15.3 million (€10.64m) for aviation financier Domhnall Slattery’s Avolon Aerospace Leasing group contributed to the group recording a loss of $35m (€24.3m) in its first year, new figures show.

Bernie Ecclestone has today confirmed Neil Warnock will lead QPR into the Barclays Premier League next season.

FIA president Jean Todt has warned Ferrari and Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone there will be no change to the new engine rules.

RENAULT team principal Eric Boullier has urged FIA president Jean Todt and Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone to end their “little war” for the sake of the future of the sport.

Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali has urged Formula One's commercial rights holders CVC to start investing in the sport to guarantee his team's future interest.

The owners of Formula One today echoed the words of Bernie Ecclestone by insisting the sport is not for sale.

Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone has again reiterated the sport’s current owners are in no mood to sell following further speculation regarding a potential takeover.

BERNIE ECCLESTONE has dismissed speculation of a potential takeover of Formula One by a consortium led by News Corporation.

Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone has spoken to state prosecutors in Germany investigating alleged illegal payments to a former German bank executive.