Thames Tech Wire

Reports: Swiss Government Vows to Veto Move for Eircom

Dublin -- According to news reports, the Swiss Finance Ministry has
threatened to block any move by local telecommunications bellwether
Swisscom to acquire Eircom, the incumbent telecommunications
operator in Ireland. Swisscom, which is controlled by the Swiss state,
announced two weeks ago that it was in talks with Eircom about the
possible takeover of the Irish firm. A volte-face by the company last
week, however, has scuttled the deal. "We have told Swisscom that the
government does not want them to get involved there (with Eircom),"
ministry spokesman Dieter Leutwyler told Reuters. "The
(government's) board representative has been instructed to vote against
such an engagement." The news has caught many analysts and
investors by surprise, as many believed the deal was a foregone
conclusion; Eircom's shares fell by as much as 16% in late afternoon
trading.
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Logicalis Group to Acquire HP Division of U.S.-Based Avnet

London -- Logicalis Group, a U.K.-based IT firm, announced that it has
agreed to acquire the U.S.-based HP enterprise end-user business unit
of Avnet Inc. (AVT), which last year reported revenues of £58.5
million ($100 million). Under the terms of the deal, Logicalis has also
agreed to a multi-year exclusive distribution agreement with Avnet.
"This announcement is part of Logicalis Group's continuing global
strategy, where expansion is achieved through both organic growth and
acquisition," said Logicalis CEO Jens Montanana. "Today's
announcement further strengthens (Logicalis's) strategic partnerships
with HP and IBM." Over the past year, Logicalis has acquired two IBM
Premier Business Partners in the U.S. (Solution Technology and Eisco),
as well as U.K.-based HP Storage Elite Partner Hawke Systems and
IBM Premier Partners Notability Solutions and TBC, also based in the
U.K.
http://www.uk.logicalis.com/

Ireland's Data Electronics Wins Deloitte's "Fast 50" Award

Dublin -- Data Electronics, an Ireland-based data centre operator, has
won this year's Deloitte "Technology Fast 50" award, which ranks the
fastest-growing technology companies in the Republic of Ireland and
Northern Ireland. Over the last five years, the company's revenues have
grown by approximately 4,376%. Digiweb, a local broadband provider
using wireless, satellite and DSL technologies, came in third place,
with a revenue growth rate of about 2,384%. "We are delighted to see
the Technology Fast 50 go from strength to strength, and (the) finalists
provide us with a great barometer to assess the state of the emerging
technology sector in Ireland," said Deloitte partner David O'Flanagan.
"Performance indicators from this year's list are very positive,
representing an impressive average increase in revenue of almost 190
percent on last year."
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U.K.-Based Easy Convey Secures £3-Million Investment

London -- Easy Convey Ltd., a U.K.-based developer of electronic
conveyancing products and services, announced that it has secured £3
million in venture-capital financing. RemoteLaw Online Systems
Corp., a Canada-based conveyancing software system, led the round.
Easy Convey said it would use the funding for additional recruitment
and expansion and a more aggressive product-development
programme. "Canada is probably two or three years ahead of the U.K.
in terms of e-conveyancing, which means that RemoteLaw can offer us
a peek into the future, whilst also giving us the benefit of hindsight,"
said Easy Convey Managing Director Dominic Cullis. "RemoteLaw's
extensive experience of this market will be invaluable to us, both in
terms of knowing what to do, and also what not to do." Under the terms
of the funding, RemoteLaw CFO Martin Johnson will join Easy
Convey's board.
http://www.remotelaw.com/news-102405

U.K.-Based ISP PlusNet Acquires Parbin for £1.7 Million

London -- PlusNet, a U.K.-based Internet service provider (ISP),
announced that it has acquired Parbin Ltd. for approximately £1.7
million. Parbin -- which recently topped a Which? magazine survey
evaluating customers' satisfaction with their broadband ISPs --
currently has more than 16,000 broadband customers. PlusNet said it
would offer Parbin customers a wider choice of broadband services,
including Internet telephony. "The acquisition of Parbin gives us access
to a business with a strong reputation and a growing broadband
customer base," said PlusNet CEO Lee Strafford. "We plan to broaden
product choice and enhance customer support including 24/7 coverage
for Metronet's customers." (Parbin trades as Metronet).
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U.K.-Based Telcogames Acquires France's Magic Productions

London -- Telcogames Ltd., a U.K.-based mobile-gaming firm,
announced that it has bought Magic Productions, a France-based game
developer and publisher and creator of games for Symbian- and
Microsoft Windows-powered mobile Smartphones. Financial terms
were not disclosed. "We think (Magic Productions) is making some of
the best mobile games in the world at the moment," said CEO Jamie
Conyngham. "We want to supplement our world leading J2ME & Brew
portfolio from over 100 publishers with our own high-end games aimed
at the serious and experienced mobile gamer who demands an
extremely high quality product." Telcogames said it expected to
integrate the companies and complete the deal sometime early next
year.
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Progressive Gaming Acquires EndX Group

London -- Progressive Gaming International Corp. (PGIC), a Las
Vegas-based supplier of integrated casino management systems
software and games for the gaming industry, announced that it has
acquired EndX Group, a U.K.-based gaming management systems
software company, for an undisclosed sum. EndX's Intelligence
Product Suite is installed in more than 175 gaming centres in more than
20 countries worldwide. "Our two organisations have been well
connected over the past three years on many fronts, and together, as
one enterprise, we expect to maximise the value of their outstanding
technology and the world-class team they have assembled," said PGIC
CEO Russ McMeekin.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?I3CC32A3C

Oxonica CEO Wins Business Leader Award

London -- Oxonica, a U.K.-based nanotechnology firm, announced that
Oxonica CEO Kevin Matthews has won Small Times magazine's "Best
of Small Tech Business Leader of the Year" award. "It was easy to
point to Oxonica's July IPO (initial public offering) as a key
achievement for (Matthews), but (he) also oversaw the rollout of
Oxonica's materials into products as diverse as cosmetics and diesel
fuel, and in locations from Europe to the Philippines," said Small
Times Associate Editor David Forman. Small Times is a source of
business news and analysis about the "small tech" industry, which
includes nanotechnology, MEMS and Microsystems.
http://www.oxonica.com/press.asp

DTI Invests Invests £1.5 Million in Jennic

London -- Jennic, a U.K.-based wireless sensor network firm,
announced that it has received £1.5 million from the Department of
Trade and Industry (DTI). The privately held company said it would
use the funds to recruit further engineering, manufacturing and field
support staff. "We have developed our first key product, invested in
manufacture and test processes and opened up regional offices in Asia,
Japan and the Americas to drive sales in key wireless markets," said
Jennic CEO Jim Lindop. "(This) latest funding will assist in boosting
our infrastructure and support as we grow our customer base."
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Cinven Acquires France's Altice One for Undisclosed Sum

Paris -- Cinven, a U.K.-based private-equity firm, announced that it has
acquired Altice One, a France-based cable operator, for an undisclosed
sum. Altice One offers digital and analogue TV, broadband telephone
and Internet through its divisions Est Videocom in Alsace and Coditel
in Belgium and Luxembourg. Under the terms of the deal, Cinven will
control a 70% stake in Altice, with founding stakeholders SG Capital
Europe, Pechel Industrie and a group of private investors controlling
the remaining 30%. "Our investment in Altice One compliments that of
Numericable, which we completed less than a year ago," said Cinven
partner Pascal Heberling. "Together, (Est Videocom and Coditel)
represent 4.75 million connections and almost 2.5 million revenue
generating units, making this the largest Francophone cable network in
Europe."
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