Ardagh Group’s bondholders are banking on a leverage-reducing initial public offering of shares to sustain a rally as the European glassware-maker completes a $1.7bn (€1.28bn) debt-funded acquisition in the US.

PUBLIC relations company Murray Consultants has appointed Ed Micheau as an account director.

An American takeover of Manchester United could be in the pipeline, which would create a €120m windfall for Irish businessmen JP McManus and John Magnier.