The latest Initiative Europe focus report says that private capital is increasingly being raised for investment in European technology companies despite turbulence in the world’s public markets.
Trade & Industry Secretary Stephen Byers has agreed with the Director General of Fair Trading's view that the takeover by Interbrew would reduce competition in the UK beer market and drive up prices for consumers.
Just three days before Christmas, Schroder Ventures acquired a 71.2 per cent shareholding in Homebase, in a deal which valued the DIY chain at £750m.
nCoTec will offer the software company both financial and operational support.
Allianz Capital Partners and Goldman Sachs are rumoured to have paid E700m for the acquisition and to have assumed Aventis's share of Messer's estimated E1.6bn debt.
Schroders’ share in the carried interest on the venture capital company’s existing fund is down to 2 per cent out of 20 per cent.
The fruit developer has axed plans to develop its internet venture worldoffruit and has laid-off half the portal’s 20 staff.
IBM will provide technical support, geared specially to start-ups, for bmp AG and its associated companies.
The fund will focus on investments in Poland, Hungary and other Central European countries.
Chemical e-marketplace ChemUnity.com will use the funds to develop software.