Deal Headlines Thursday 2nd
Article Date: Aug 03 2007In today's headlines, deals signed off include a £12 million AIM fund raising by green energy business Energetix and a £4 million acquisition by NCC Group of computer network tester SecureTest.
* Energetix has raised £12 million to develop its green energy business through a share placing on AIM
* Ludgate Environmental Fund, an investor in environmental technology and services companies, has listed on AIM raising £25 million
* WorldSpreads Group, a Dublin-based supplier of spread betting products, has launched on AIM with an oversubscribed 12.3 million shares at 47p raising £5.8 million
* Homeserve plc has acquired Madrid-based Reparalia for an undisclosed amount, adding to its home repair and insurance business
* High technology tools and systems company Oxford Instruments plc has completed the acquisition of German-based manufacturer and supplier of metal analytical tools WAS
* Rapid Realisation, a newly incorporated closed-ended Guernsey registered company established to make investments in pre-flotation businesses, has raised £60 million through an IPO of 60 million shares at £1 on AIM
* Guernsey-based Lewis Charles Romania Property Fund, an investor in Romanian property, has launched on AIM raising £27.4 million with 19.57 million shares
* Coal mining firm Oracle Coalfields has started trading on PLUS. The firm was granted a license to explore and mine 100 sq km of Sindh province in Pakistan earlier this year
* Manchester-based property company Jaymar Estates has acquired a 25,000 sq ft building at Paragon Business Village in Wakefield for £6 million
* IT security firm NCC Group has made its second acquisition of the year with the £4 million purchase of computer network tester SecureTest
* Private equity firm 3i has invested an undisclosed amount in an MBO in biopharmaceutical logistics business Marken
Deals in the pipeline:
* Publisher Trinity Mirror is expected to announce the completion of the sale of its Racing Post title for an estimated £190 million to FL Partners
* Shipping and property investor One51/Doyle Group is believed to be attempting to sell its 20.4% stake in shipping, transport and leisure operator Irish Continental Group to developer Liam Carroll, aborting its bid attempt
* Shares in Catalytic Solutions were suspended on AIM after the US automotive catalyst makers announced a $58.1 million (£28.6 million) bid for the catalyst division of Delphi Corporation
* French-based IT service provider Steria is to acquire UK rival Xansa plc for about £472 million in cash
* Home improvement group Kingfisher is to sell its freehold property interest in B&Q’s 875,000 sq ft national distribution centre to property investor and lender Mutual Finance for £73 million cash
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