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

BT signs 1.2m contract with e-Net

BT has signed a €1.2 million contract with e-Net, the operator of the Government's fibre-optic metropolitan area networks (Mans).

The deal will enable the telecoms firm to offer broadband and other high- capacity bandwidth services in the 27 towns covered by phase one of the Mans project.

Although BT has used Mans for projects in the past, Liam O'Brien, managing director of BT business, said the €1.2 million deal would formalise BT's intention to use them on a "more strategic basis".

The deal extends BT's network footprint to towns where it did not previously offer services.

Auditors 'stifling' small firms

The impact of auditors on many small industries in Ireland, and across the EU in general, is "devastating", a conference on the needs of small and medium-sized enterprises was told yesterday.

Michael Tunney, chief executive of Donegal County Enterprise Board, said excessive red tape was also a major stumbling block for expansion and growth.

Cllr Connie Hannify, president of an EU commission on regional development, said the role of auditors was stifling many small companies, and she felt there was a need for relaxation on the minimal fiscal activity of infant projects to enable them to grow and strengthen.

Oppenheim changes name after acquisition

Oppenheim Investment Managers has changed its name to Merrion Investment Managers following its recent acquisition by Merrion Capital Group, a subsidiary of Iceland's Landsbanki Islands. It will manage about €1 billion on behalf of institutional clients.

Oppenheim was Ireland's leading pension fund manager over the past 10 years, according to Rubicon Investment Consulting, consistently outperforming inflation.