IN BRIEF (Page 16)

Production boost

Samsung Electronics Co Ltd said yesterday it would crank up production to meet its monthly targets after a chip plant power outage last week as it moved to calm fears over chip supplies.

Samsung's sprawling Kiheung complex was hit by a power shortage on Friday afternoon that shut down six of its chip production lines, raising the prospect of price increases and boosting shares of rival memory chip makers.

Billionaire ups stake

UK billionaire Robert Tchenguiz may have added to his stake in Mitchells & Butlers Plc, a pub company, even though a property joint venture between the two has been delayed because of credit-market problems, the Financial Times reported, without saying where it got the information.

Tchenguiz may have boosted his stake in the London-based company by 4 percentage points, to 20 percent, the newspaper said.

New bases

Ryanair Holdings Plc may establish two more operating bases in Spain, the Financial Times reported, without citing anyone.

The Irish carrier, which has the widest spread of operations across Europe of any airline, with 20 bases in eight countries, is negotiating agreements for Valencia and Alicante in Spain, the newspaper said.

Firm faces fine

Imperial Oil Ltd, Canada's largest oil company, faces a fine of as much as C$10 million ($9.49 million) for breaking air-quality standards in Ontario.

The company allegedly violated rules controlling sulfur dioxide emissions at its Sarnia, Ontario, refinery on December 6, 2005, the Calgary-based company said yesterday.

Agencies-Bloomberg News

(China Daily 08/07/2007 page16)