DIA has become a frustrating play for short sellers. The Spanish supermarket chain’s shares are up 12% this year, outperforming peers.

A joint venture between Ireland and the US is likely to have committed close to €120m in capital to housebuilding projects here by the end of the year.

Professional services giant Capita Asset Services is planning to increase its Irish-based workforce by 200 people inside the next two years on the back of a growing project portfolio and general growth in the economy.

A joint venture between the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund and global investment firm, KKR, will deliver “a material increase in housing supply” after a €500m fund was announced yesterday.

CRH is buying the UK’s biggest cement maker as part of the €6.5bn sale of assets by merger partners Lafarge and Holcim.

Permanent TSB is likely to tap private investors before AIB early next year, though there is little chance that both state-owned banks will weigh on each other’s prospects of raising equity, according to analysts.

KKR and Colony Capital are the most likely investors in Permanent TSB when it raises capital following the results of the stress tests, according to a source.

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.

Eircom has said its chief executive Herb Hribar has decided not to renew his contract and is stepping down from his position.

A huge reduction in the cost of mortgages in arrears helped Ulster Bank to its first profit in six years, it was announced yesterday.

Royal Bank of Scotland chief executive Ross McEwan has confirmed that there have been negotiations with private equity firms over a possible takeover of Ulster Bank.

The Irish Bank Officials Association (IBOA) has called on Ulster Bank to clarify its future following a story in this newspaper about a possible takeover by a private equity firm.

A management-supported private equity takeover of Ulster Bank is being considered by Royal Bank of Scotland.

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.

Royal Bank of Scotland is already in discussions with private equity firms about a possible investment in Ulster Bank, according to a person familiar with the situation.

Global private equity firm KKR has bought $150m (€109m) worth of shipping loans from two European banks amid a surge of interest in the industry as world trade in goods picks up.

Carlyle Group, the world’s second-largest manager of investment alternatives to stocks and bonds, said fourth-quarter profit more than tripled as the value of its fund holdings increased and the firm sold assets at a profit.

Despite securing a recent €12.5m write down on their stadium debt, Football Association of Ireland chief executive John Delaney has revealed his target of having the loans cleared by 2020 could be pushed out.

KKR’s acquisition of Dublin-based investment firm Avoca Capital is seen as a positive and will not affect its ‘highest standards’ asset manager rating, according to the ratings agency Fitch.

Several private equity groups and hedge funds have expressed interest in public finance specialist Depfa, which the state-rescued German bank Hypo Real Estate has put on the block.

Soft drinks brands Lucozade and Ribena could be bought by Japan’s Suntory Beverage & Food within days in a deal worth more than £1bn.

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

Taxpayer-backed Royal Bank of Scotland is set to launch the flotation of its Direct Line Group insurance arm within weeks after ending sale talks with private equity buyers, it was reported today.

Global food and dairy companies are making another round of big bets on China’s fast growing dairy sector, seeking to position themselves as safe alternatives after a lethal baby formula scandal burned the industry four years ago.

Alliance Boots, owner of Europe’s biggest pharmacy chain, is looking to expand through partnership deals in Asia and Latin America, financed by its own cash flows, it said yesterday.

IRISH financiers John Magnier and JP McManus are being linked with a takeover bid for the British pub group, Mitchells & Butlers (M&B), which could value the business at more than £1.7 billion (€1.9bn).

UK retailer and drugs wholesaler Alliance Boots today posted strong growth in annual sales and profits, despite a tough time for baby products and photography.

Warner Music Group’s search for a buyer of its publishing arm Warner/Chappell is partly intended to clear a path to buy all of British recording giant EMI, a person familiar with the matter said.

IRELAND was the only blot in a record fiscal year for international pharmacy and beauty products chain Boots, but it still has plans to expand here.

EMI’s recorded music division appeared to be back in the sights of Warner Music today after a report said the rival US firm had joined forces with private equity giant KKR to consider plans for a bid.

THE outlook for Anglo Irish Bank’s surviving as a standalone entity deteriorated further yesterday as its shares plunged about 28% for the second day in a row.

AS RIVAL investors battle to inject billions into the six Irish-owned banks, significant uncertainty still surrounds their future.

EUROPEAN private equity house Cinven has reportedly ended any interest it had in acquiring Irish pharmaceutical company Elan’s drug research arm, Elan Drug Technology (EDT), which is currently being hawked around the market for potential buyers.

The billionaire Alliance Boots boss who helped take the high street giant private for £11.1bn (€13.9bn) will not take any cash out of the business for two years, it emerged today.

The new owners of Boots, Stefano Pessina and private equity firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts, today said the group was trading "well ahead" of expectations after being taken private for £11.1 billion in July.

Confectionery giant Cadbury Schweppes was today reported to have turned down a second offer worth between £6.4bn (€9.3bn) and £6.9bn (€10bn) for its drinks arm.

Alliance Boots chief executive Richard Baker quit the healthcare giant today as the company’s new owners announced a management overhaul.

Bid speculation involving Virgin Media returned this weekend after it was reported the cable company could be about to get an $8 billion (€5.9bn) approach from a private equity firm.

Alliance Boots' private equity buyers Kohlberg Kravis Roberts are preparing to meet the group's pension fund trustees in a bid to end the row that threatens to derail the £11.1bn (€16.4bn) takeover.

The guardian of the Boots pension fund attacked the company today for backing a £11.1bn (€16.3bn) takeover before agreement had been reached on funding for future retirement benefits.

Alliance Boots’ shareholders will cast their votes today on the recommended £11.1bn (€16.3bn) takeover of the group by private equity firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts and deputy chairman Stefano Pessina.

The prospect of an £8bn (€11.7bn) bidding war for the drinks arm of Cadbury Schweppes caused shares in the blue-chip company to surge ahead today.