Merger and acquisition activity grew by 17.6% during the second quarter of 2012, according to the latest NCB Corporate Finance M&A Tracker Survey.

THE Central Bank has made the first appointments to its new Risk Advisers Panel – the vehicle announced earlier this year to assess risk management standards at the main banks.

BLOCKBUSTER has sold Xtra-vision to Irish firm Birchhall Investments for up to $45 million (€31m).

Padraic O’Connor has been appointed as chairman of the Irish Stock Exchange at the annual general meeting of the Exchange held this morning in Dublin.

Quinn Financial Services, part of the Quinn Group of companies, is to take a stake in the NCB Group.