Market analysts have remained relatively upbeat over the prospects for ferry operator/freight business, Irish Continental Group (ICG) — which holds its annual general meeting on Wednesday.

Dublin-based investment firm TVC Holdings has reported a solid set of annual results, underpinned by a 24% increase in the value of its investment portfolio.

UTV has reported record annual profits of £23.3m (almost €28m), despite taking a significant impairment hit in its Irish division.

Irish Ferries owner Irish Continental Group has warned of the effect of rising fuel costs on its balance sheet but remains “confident” about its prospects.

A €4 million rise in the company’s fuel bill resulted in a drop in pre-tax profits at ferries group Irish Continental (ICG).

FERRY and freight services business Irish Continental Group (ICG) said it is well placed to compete in challenging trading conditions, despite posting significant declines in its latest results.

IRISH Continental Group (ICG), in which troubled property developer Liam Carroll has a key minority holding, suffered a sharp fall in turnover and profits in the first half of the year.

IRISH Continental Group (ICG) – the ferry and freight services business – has reported a 9.7% year-on-year decline in passenger numbers for the 25-week period up to the end of last week.

CAR Ferries group IrishContinental (ICG) has put a deadline of March 18 on the proposed Moonduster bid for the company.

IRISH Continental Group chief executive Eamonn Rothwell saw his pay sail 40% higher in 2007 after he pocketed a bonus of close to €1 million.

IRISH Continental Group Plc, Ireland’s largest ferry operator, is no longer under offer after a takeover bid by investment company One51 and marine-services operator Doyle Group Ltd lapsed.

A MAJOR row has erupted between the two bidders for car ferries group ICG.

THE independent directors of Irish Ferries operator, ICG, have given the two rival companies fighting to buy the company until this Thursday to sort out the bidding stalemate for the firm.

ONE51 and the Doyle Group have increased their stake in ICG to 20.2%, paying up to €20.75 for its recent share purchases in the group.

IRISH Continental Group’s management team, led by its chief executive, Eamon Rothwell, yesterday made a surprise €470 million offer to take the company private.

THE Irish Ferries dispute and associated rationalisation costs plunged Irish Continental Group into losses of €14.8 million before tax in 2005.

Ulster Television has announced record results for the six months to the end of June this year.

FERRY operator Irish Continental Group said trading in the first quarter of 2005 has been challenging.

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Broadcaster Ulster TV said today an advertising upturn had helped it to boost annual profits by 46% to £13.9m (€20.2m).

Broadcaster Ulster TV today posted a 45% hike in profits to £6.2m (€9.1m) as it maintained its record of outperforming the rest of the ITV network.

Before-tax profits at ferries group Irish Continental were down €500,000, from €1.9m to €1.4m, in the first half of 2004, compared with the same period last year.

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Ferry group Irish Continental has reported turnover up 4% to €304.3m for the year ending December 2003. Pre-tax profits for what the company called 'a challenging year' declined 13% to €22.5m, excluding an exceptional charge of €4.8m for restructuring.

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John McGuckian has been appointed Allied Irish Bank's senior independent non-executive director.

OPERATING profits rose 8% at Ulster Television last year from €19.9m to €21.4m.

Ulster Television today showed it had avoided the worst of the media downturn, as a fall in profits at its TV arm was more than offset by income from its radio and internet divisions.

Ulster Television has outperformed its rivals by recording a dip in advertising revenue of just 2%.