Glass and packaging group Ardagh has announced plans for an early refinancing of just over €2bn in debt, effectively removing any repayment deadlines from around its targeted IPO date of 2015.

The rich just got richer, according to the latest Sunday Times Rich List, which indicates that the total wealth of the country’s richest 250 people increased by just under €3bn last year.

US regulators have stalled a €1.3bn takeover planned by Irish glass and packaging group Ardagh, claiming the proposed move is “anti-competitive”.

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.

Glass and packaging group Ardagh has reached initial agreement to acquire Verallia North America — the second largest glass container manufacturer in the US — from French multinational, Saint-Gobain for around $1.7bn (€1.27bn).

Irish glass and packaging group Ardagh has acquired the Florida-based company, Anchor Glass Container Corporation, for $880 million (€721m).

Ardagh Glass is poised to float on the New York Stock Exchange and, if the move goes to plan, it will transform its main shareholder, Paul Coulson, from one of Ireland’s richest men into the realms of mega wealthy, writes Kyran Fitzgerald

IRISH bottling company Ardagh Glass has bought international packaging group Impress Co-operative for €1.7 billion, in a deal being described as strategic for the business.

MARKETING of the controversial Ringsend site that houses the former Irish Glass Bottle Company is to start at the end of the month.

THE owners of a medical waste disposal company are in line for multi-million euro windfalls after selling up for around €110 million.

SOUTH WHARF Plc is attempting to buy 25 acres of State land for a fraction of its price under a legal loophole.

South Wharf - the company remaining after the Ardagh glass business was demerged and taken private - has reported pre-tax losses of €1.2m for the first half of 2004.

ARDAGH GLASS has reported a 37% slump in pre-tax profits for the first half of the year.

ARDAGH GLASS has acquired a majority stake in a Polish glass manufacturer, spending €8 million in the process.

ARDAGH plc is planning to return to the Irish glass market by distributing glass container products made at its Germany factory.