US MEDIA FIRM RACKS UP NEARLY €500M LOSSES AT IRISH SUBSIDIARIES - The Irish Times is reporting that Colorado-based cable company Liberty Global had almost $560m (€497m) in accumulated losses at its Irish businesses at the end of 2015 that could potentially be offset against future profits here.
A recent 10-k filing by the listed company with the Securities and Exchange Commission in the United States showed that in Ireland, Liberty carried forward tax losses of $558.5m and had a related tax asset of $69.8m (€62m).
The filing states that these have no expiration date, unlike some other markets where it operates.
The paper says the Irish figure relates to cable TV and telecoms provider Virgin Media.
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DAA MAY ISSUE BOND TO FUND NEW DUBLIN RUNWAY - The DAA will examine all appropriate funding methods - including a possible bond issue - to help bankroll the development of a new runway at Dublin Airport, according to the Irish Independent.
The paper attributes the statement to DAA Chief Executive Kevin Toland.
The DAA is currently examining plans for a second parallel runway at Dublin Airport as passenger numbers soar.
Last year the airport handled over 25m passengers, a record for the facility and 15% more than in 2014, making it one of the fastest-growing airports in Europe.
Existing planning permission for a new runway expires next year, and the DAA is currently evaluating whether or not it will rely on that current permission, or submit a new planning application.
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HELICOPTER RESCUE FIRM WITH STATE CONTRACT RECORDS PROFIT OF €3.4M - The Irish Examiner reports that profits at the company that operates the €500m State contract to provide helicopter Search and Rescue services last year increased eight-fold to €3.4m.
The paper cites new figures lodged by CHC Ireland Ltd, which show the firm recorded the sharp rise in pre-tax profits after revenues jumped by almost €10m to €48.38m.
Canadian-owned CHC Ireland provides the SAR Service from its four main bases at Dublin, Sligo, Shannon, and Waterford for the State.
Its 10-year €500m contract started in 2012 and CHC has an option to extend for a further three years on a year-by-year basis.
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UK MOTORISTS WOULD SUPPORT NEW FORMS OF CHARGING TO USE ROADS - The Financial Times reports that UK motorists would support some new form of charging to use the roads, according to a transport think-tank that has called on the government to reconsider the policy as fuel tax revenues fall.
A report by the Independent Transport Commission found that 65% of 2,250 those surveyed would back some new form of paying for road use, even though the idea has long been a controversial one with UK motorists.
According to the ITC, no options for road charging were completely rejected, although the highest support, at 26% of those polled, was for a peak-time charge on congested motorways.
The survey comes as the government faces a continuing decline in tax revenues raised from fuel duty.
Last week George Osborne, the chancellor, handed a surprise fillip to motorists in the budget as he froze fuel duty for the sixth year running, in spite of dwindling tax receipts from petrol and diesel as a result of low oil prices.
