Almost 11,000 new jobs were created by IDA-supported companies last year, significantly up on the previous year’s total of 4,615, according to figures released today.

Commercial property company Blackrock International Land saw its assets decline in value by almost €90m in 2009 due to the property slump, the company said today.

A GLOBAL pharmaceutical firm is to set up its new headquarters in Co Louth, creating up to 200 jobs.

The number of merger and acquisition deals involving Irish companies increased by 30% to 38 in the first quarter of 2006 compared to the same period a year earlier, the latest M&A tracker survey from corporate finance specialists Ion Equity reveals.

WARNER Chilcott, the Northern Ireland drug company, made a loss in the second quarter of the year.

Irish companies were involved in mergers and acquisitions worth almost €4bn in the first quarter of 2005, almost double the value of transactions in the same period in 2004, according to the latest M&A Tracker survey from Irish corporate finance firm Ion Equity.

The ISEQ began the week in the red today, falling 13.94 points to close the day at 6,160.55.

A DRAWN-OUT battle for control of Warner Chilcott looked less likely yesterday as one of the three bidders for the Northern drug firm dropped out of the race to join forces with the frontrunner.

The ISEQ index surged today, following the trend of markets across Europe buoyed by the relief with the end of the US presidential race.

Elan shares broke through the €21 mark today, after a rise of 19 cent took them to €21.14.

The private equity arms of Credit Suisse First Boston and JP Morgan have agreed for Bain Capital and Thomas H Lee to join the Waren Acquisition consortium in their bid to buy pharmaceutical company Warner Chilcott for £1.62bn (€2.34bn).

THE American private equity group that plans to buy Northern drug company Warner Chilcott for close to €2.3 billion has opened the door to rival bidders to be part of the takeover.

LOSSES at Elan exceeded revenues in the three months to September the company revealed yesterday, but executives are confident of a return to profit in 2006.

Kerry Group and Warner Chilcott joined Irish Life & Permanent in making strong gains today to give the ISEQ a 41.44 point boost to see the index finish the day at 5,676.42.

London shares picked up the pace in late trading to end the day firmly above the key 4600 support level.

Positive momentum from across the Atlantic was holding the FTSE 100 Index above the key 4600 barrier today.

Irish Life & Permanent made strong gains this morning as the ISEQ index of shares added 18.63 to 5653.61 at 10.45am.

The battle for Warner Chilcott moved to the next round today when the drugs group confirmed an approach that could value it at more than £1.5bn (€2.15bn).

The race for drugs group Warner Chilcott (formerly Galen) will hot up this week when two rival consortia table bids of more than £1.5bn (€2.2bn), it was reported today.

It was a day to forget for Dublin's stock exchange as the Iseq index of shares fell 47.28 points to 5,587.91 with most stocks losing value.

The ISEQ ended the week on a negative note today as it fell 7.15 points to 5586.04, with the biggest falls recorded by building group Abbey and pharmaceutical firm Warner Chilcott.

The ISEQ closed down 13.02 points at 5617.18 today, as the FTSE continued its downward slump.

The ISEQ index has slipped back in morning trading today, as financial stocks were all in decline in Dublin today.

SHARES in Warner Chilcott gained more than 6% yesterday after the drugmaker said a second bidder has made a play for the company.

Dublin's Iseq managed to rally today among some big gains.

Financial stocks failed to rally in Dublin today, spelling a morning in the red for the ISEQ index.

A £1.5bn (€2.2bn) bidding war for Warner Chilcott loomed today after the Northern Ireland-based pharmaceuticals group revealed a second takeover approach.

Northern Ireland-based drug company Warner Chilcott has said it has opened its books to the a consortium of private equity institutions that recently approached it.

The ISEQ index continued its bright start from this morning by finishing at 5,703.97 for the day, a gain of 42.44 points, thanks largely to a huge price rise in Warner Chilcott's shares.

The ISEQ index of Irish shares finished - just about - in positive territory today, up 2.45 points to 5661.53.

The FTSE 100 Index shrank back from the 4600 barrier today as it failed to recover from the early shock of a profits warning from Unilever.

The ISEQ has slipped back 10.87 to 5,648.21 in morning trading today, shares in Elan falling sharply today.

Pharmaceutical giant Warner Chilcott, formerly known as Galen, has confirmed it has received an approach for a takeover of the company.

The ISEQ climbed 14.7 today to close at 5,630.28 this evening.

Warner Chilcott's FDA approval for menopause symptom drug Femtrace has not helped the company share price this morning, after it fell by nine cent to €8.87.

ISEQ, FTSE and Nasdaq-listed Warner Chilcott has secured approval from the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) for Femtrace™ tablets for the relief of the vasomotor symptoms (eg hot flashes, flushing) of menopause.

The ISEQ managed to recover from the poor start by markets across Europe today to close the day still in the red but only just.

WARNER CHILCOTT, the Northern drugmaker formerly called Galen, has reported a 13% rise in third-quarter sales.

After a positive start this morning, the ISEQ index has fallen 17.52 points to close at 5,184.71 for the day.

The ISEQ index has climbed 7.73 points in morning trading today, rising to 5,207.96 at 11.15am.

Northern Ireland pharmaceutical company Warner Chilcott, previously known as Galen Holdings PLC, has announced its latest quarterly results for the period ended June 30.

The ISEQ has enjoyed a positive morning of trading, climbing 10.24 to 5,352.42 at 11.45am today.

Warner Chilcott has announced that it has received a decision from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana concerning its patent litigation dispute with Teva Pharmaceuticals (Teva).

ELAN’S change in fortunes has been underpinned by a number of reports from analysts.