The North’s business support agency has failed to deliver despite spending £1bn (€687426) in the seven year’s since its inception, a damning report found today.

British American Tobacco today said profits had risen by 8.5% on the back of good profit growth across most of its businesses.

IRISH Industrial Explosives’ dominance of the €40 million-plus explosives market is to come under threat from a rival consortium who want to built a €10m production facility in Munster.

British American Tobacco PLC declined to comment on reports it has held talks with Swedish Match AB about bidding jointly for Ente Tabacchi Italiano, the state-owned tobacco group being sold under the Italian government's £12.5bn privatisation programme.