In Short

A round-up of today's other stories in brief.

Full inquiry to start on bid by Communicorp

The Competition Authority confirmed yesterday that it was proceeding to a full phase-two investigation of Communicorp's proposed €200 million takeover of Emap's Irish radio stations.

The deal was notified to the regulator on July 30th and it said it had been "unable to conclude without further investigation that the transaction will not substantially lessen competition".

Communicorp, which is controlled by Denis O'Brien, wants to acquire Today FM, Donegal station Highland Radio and Dublin station FM104. The Broadcasting Commission of Ireland last month ruled that Communicorp could not acquire FM104 due to Mr O'Brien's ownership of Dublin stations 98FM and Spin 103.8.

The competition body has until January 26th to make a final ruling, although it could give a decision sooner.

Interested parties can make submissions up to November 30th.

Liquidator for construction firm

A provisional liquidator was appointed by the High Court yesterday to South Midland Construction Company Ltd, Greenogue Industrial Estate, Rathcoole, Co Dublin, which employs about 100 people.

The court heard the company was established in 1966 and has special contracts relating to water and gas pipelines. Counsel for the company, Frank Beatty, said it had assets of €5.5 million and a creditors' deficit of close to €3 million.

Jim Luby, of McStay Luby chartered accountants, was appointed provisional liquidator by Mr Justice Thomas Smyth, who returned the case to November 26th.

Newcourt acquires Lenmac

Services group Newcourt has bought buildings maintenance and management specialist Lenmac, its third such deal this year.

Lenmac is focused on facilities management and buildings maintenance and operates mainly in the south and midwest. Newcourt said the deal was a logical extension of the support services it provides.

The group's support services division includes Federal Security, Acuman, Nifast and Interaction.

Newcourt is also involved in recruitment, aviation outsourcing and student accommodation.

Permanent TSB marketer awarded

Permanent TSB's head of marketing, Niall O'Grady, has won the Marketer of the Year accolade for his work on the bank's television advertisement, which stars Frank Vincent from The Sopranos.

Judges of the award - which is run by Marketing magazine and sponsored by marketing recruitment firm Alternatives - selected Mr O'Grady for his "exemplary work" in bringing a new dimension to the marketing of current accounts.

Clearwire posts net loss of $84.1m

Clearwire, which provides wireless broadband in a number of Irish towns and cities, said its global subscribers grew by 49,000 in the third quarter to 348,000, but the Nasdaq-listed company had a net loss of $84.1 million (€57.3 million).

This compared to a loss of $23.3 million last year.

Clearwire said the losses widened due to the cost of building and launching services in new markets.

A&L Goodbody wins law firm prize

London-based legal publishers Chambers and Partners has selected A&L Goodbody as "Irish law firm of the year" in its annual awards programme for international legal firms.