Seen or heard

Aer Lingus is set to invest up to €150 million in a plan to shore up the deficit in its main pension scheme – a move likely to infuriate Ryanair, its largest shareholder, reports the Sunday Times .

The plan to plug the €779 million minimum funding deficit at the Irish Airlines (General Employees) Superannuation Scheme is close to being finalised, with expectations that the Labour Court could issue a recommendation on the agreement before the end of the month. Aer Lingus's contribution is expected to exceed the €120 million proposed in talks late last year.

**************************
As many as 10 interested parties have sought the information memorandum on the €1 billion-plus sale of Bord Gáis Energy ahead of next month's deadline for indicative offers, according to the Sunday Business Post .

Some €400 million, or about 20 per cent, of its debt will transfer with the State asset when it is sold later this year, the newspaper understands. The remainder will stay with the networks business being left behind. The process is expected to be concluded by the end of the year. Meanwhile, the Sunday Times identifies Singapore-based Keppel Corporation as one of the interested parties.

**************************
Tesco chief executive Philip Clarke will launch a campaign against food waste this week, writing in the Sunday Telegraph that the scale of the problem is "simply breathtaking". The newspaper notes that the move is designed to show Tesco can use its dominance of the grocery sector to spark social change.

Tesco food will come in smaller sizes, and food promotions will be tailored to stop encouraging people to buy large amounts of food with a short shelf life.

“Tesco, like any business, does not stand apart from society,” Clarke writes. “I want those already working on food waste to know that they now have an ally.”

***************************
Intel's global chief technology officer, Justin Rattner, has told the Sunday Business Post that the semiconductor chip manufacturer's Leixlip plant will have a key manufacturing role in the company' s smartphone and tablet plans. Intel aims to become the leading supplier of chips to tablets and smartphones within a year. The paper reports that the industry is waiting to see whether Intel will choose Ireland or Israel for a new €3.3 billion investment that could create up to 1,000 jobs.

Rattner said the technology invested at Leixlip would help “put distance” between Intel and its competitors in the semiconductor market.