Here’s a run down of today’s business headlines.

Bitbuzz — the Irish-owned wifi company — recorded its best year on record in 2013, with an 81% increase in registered users, to 2.08m and a near 70% rise in log-ins, to 811,944.

THERE is an ancient Chinese blessing — ‘May you live in interesting times’.

Claire Droney indulges in some five-star treatment at No 128 St Stephen’s Green.

The former personal assistant of Adam Clayton has been jailed for seven years after she was found guilty of stealing nearly €3m from his bank accounts.

A former business adviser of Adam Clayton has told a trial he recommended that the U2 member remove his personal assistant as a cheque signatory as soon as she had admitted spending some of his money on herself.

The former PA of Adam Clayton, who allegedly stole almost €3m from him, had a credit card limit nearly half as big her shared annual salary, a court has heard.

The former personal assistant of Adam Clayton accused of stealing nearly €3 million from him spent almost €1.5 million on her credit card over a four year period, a court has heard.

A former personal assistant of U2’s Adam Clayton earned his trust before being promoted to the role and embezzling €2.8m of his funds, a court heard today.

SOLICITOR and businessman Noel Smyth is being sued for €9.6 million at the Commercial Court over his guarantees of loans made to two companies.

CARBERY Group was crowned Company of the Year last night at Ireland’s largest corporate entertainment event outside of Dublin.

AFTER RECEIVING a walkover from top seed Daniel Glancy in the opening round, Glasnevin’s Paul Keoghan was quickly jolted back to reality last night at the National Indoors Tennis Championships at David Lloyd Riverview when Mike Johnston defeated him 6-4 6-1.

Cork drinks distribution firm Barry & Fitzwilliam is close to concluding a deal for the takeover of a franchise which has 52 off-licences nationwide.

Drinks distribution firm Barry & Fitzwilliam is now planning to do a deal to take over Galvin’s Wholesale, which earlier this year announced that a tax fraud perpetrated on it had put it into financial difficulties.

DRINK distribution company Barry & Fitzwilliam is hoping to gain control of fellow Cork-based group Galvin’s Wholesale – which went into examinership in September – by the end of this week.

CORK-based drinks distribution firm Barry & Fitzwilliam saw pre-tax profit rise 6% to €3.4 million last year but it said 2009 is proving much tougher.

CORK drink distribution firm Barry & Fitzwilliam is planning an expansion into the North.

Barry & Fitzwilliam has sealed new direct distribution contracts with Beam Global Spirits & Wine, Bols Amsterdam, The Edrington Group, Rémy Cointreau Group and SPI Group for a 23 globally recognised drinks brands.

THE Cork-based Barry & Fitzwilliam independent distributor of international wines, spirits and beer brands, has clinched direct distribution contracts with a number of drinks groups that will be worth e18 million a year to the group.

Construction of yet another Belfast city centre hotel was getting under way today.

MOBILE communications company Fitzwilliam Capital had a busy debut on the Dublin stock exchange yesterday, as shares worth almost €2 million changed hands.

SHAREHOLDERS in investment group Fitzwilliam Capital yesterday approved a plan to acquire Getmobile and change the name of the company.

VENTURE capitalist Pierce Casey has confirmed the purchase of Getmobile, a German mobile phone company, for €65 million.

The pattern was very much one-sided during the second round matches in the Danône Irish Junior Open tennis championships at the Fitzwilliam club in Dublin yesterday.

Drinks distributors Maxxium Ireland and Barry and Fitzwilliam Ltd are to partner and form a new company which will operate in the Irish wines and spirits market.

SMALL is beautiful.