Deals done this past week


17 May 2010

An overview of the week in deals in the Irish technology sector, including international deals for mobile communications firm Altobridge and specialist interconnect billing solutions vendor i-conX Solutions.

Energia takes on Ireland’s wave power

Energia and Ocean Energy Systems have signed a new electricity off-take agreement for wave energy. Energia is to add wave power to its 220MW renewable energy portfolio, supporting Ireland’s renewable energy development. The company has signed a preliminary off-take agreement (for the purchase of electricity generated) with the pioneering US firm Ocean Energy Systems (OES), whose wave energy converter (WEC) uses wave energy to produce electricity.

Software firm secures vital deal with Vodafone in Qatar

Specialist interconnect billing solutions vendor i-conX Solutions has revealed that Vodafone Qatar is the latest live customer for the i-conX a-s-p interconnect billing solution. The deal provides Vodafone Qatar with an end-to-end, fully integrated interconnect billing solution which facilitates the accurate rating, charging and settlement of its interconnect business, both domestically and internationally.

Kerry firm Altobridge achieves South Pacific dream

Irish mobile communications firm Altobridge has secured a three-year wireless network supply and services contract with Tonga Communications Corporation (TCC) to provide the island nation’s macro-GSM coverage. Under the terms of the agreement, Altobridge will provide TCC with its industry-leading wireless network solution to improve Tonga’s macro-GSM coverage, together with the Altobridge award-winning remote communications solution that will help connect Tonga’s unconnected.

SAP buys Sybase for US$5.8bn

German business software giant SAP has acquired rival Sybase in a transaction worth US$5.9bn. Under the terms of the deal, SAP will make an all-cash offer for shares of Sybase at US$65 per share. The deal will allow SAP to accelerate the reach of its solutions across mobile platforms and drive forward the realisation of its in-memory computing vision.

Kerry firm inks €80m deal with Italian IT giant

Killarney-based financial services company Monex has signed an agreement with Italian IT firm B.E.E. Consulting to roll out its currency conversion software across Italy. Monex’s Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC) software converts credit-card transactions into the cardholder’s chosen currency at the point of sale, giving card users real-time price transparency when shopping abroad.

Ripplecom acquires Ice Broadband assets

Ice Broadband, the regional wireless broadband provider owned by former FAI chief executive Fran Rooney’s daughter Yvonne, has been acquired by up-and-coming regional broadband player Ripplecom for an undisclosed sum. The acquiring company says it is now active in 13 counties across Ireland and plans to double its workforce from 14 to 28 full-time people.

Version 1 scores €5m in IT consulting, outsourcing deals

Irish IT consulting firm Version 1 has secured deals valued at in excess of €5m, including a claims management implementation for Irish Life & Permanent plc, the company said. The €5m worth of deals include a claims management implementation for Irish Life & Permanent plc, an application support and development contract for the Local Government Computer Services Board’s (LGCSB) two housing systems and a large infrastructure managed service for a leading insurance provider.