28/02/2014 (Agence Europe) - Mergers: Apollo-Ulster Bank/Arnotts in Ireland. On 28 February, the European Commission gave the go-ahead to the acquisition of joint control over Arnotts of Ireland by the US private equity firm Apollo Management LP and Ulster Bank Ireland Limited, a subsidiary of UK-based Royal Bank of Scotland Group. Arnotts runs a small number of retail outlets, including one of Ireland's oldest department stores in the Dublin city centre. Arnotts is currently controlled by...