MEDIA BITES

SUNDAY INDEPENDENT

Digital start-up investor NDRC, which is funded by the State, has warned that Irish companies are struggling to get early-stage investment and that the response from Government is “inadequate”.

In a submission to the Department of Finance, NDRC (the National Digital Research Centre) also pointed to a worrying development as the level of funding available for early-seed investment shrinks.

It said the decision by life sciences accelerator RebelBio to move from Cork to London was a concern.

SUNDAY TIMES

Oaktree Capital Management, a US private-equity firm, is in advanced talks to fund the buy-out of the Players Square scheme in the south Dublin inner city – one of the biggest residential development sites in the capital.

Sources say that Oaktree will refinance debts of €100m secured on the site, currently held with Nama.

Under the proposed deal, Oaktree will refinance the borrowings of Players Square Ltd, the corporate owner of the site.

Grant Thornton, a Namaappointed receiver, will then stand aside.

SUNDAY BUSINESS POST

A financial adviser and longtime tied agent of EBS has lodged a fresh High Court action in a dispute over how it claims it was required to sell certain products.

Sheila Martin and her familyrun Betty Martin Financial Services sells EBS investment and mortgage products and has three offices in and near Westmeath.

Ms Martin’s husband is the developer and businessman Greg Kavanagh, who has liaised with senior AIB executives in an attempt to resolve the matter and is advising the family on its legal action, which is due in court today.