Deals done this past week


8 Aug 2011

An overview of the week in deals in the Irish technology sector.

Telecity Group talking acquisition with Data Electronics

Data centre provider Telecity Group is talking with Irish data centre operator Data Electronics about an acquisition valued at stg£100m (€114.3m)

Telecity Group has confirmed it is in discussions, which are an early stage, to take over Data Electronics.

UK-based Telecity Group is planning to expand in Europe on the heels of the growth of cloud computing and to double its computing capacity.

The company, which operates a data centre near Dublin, is constructing three new data centres in London.

ABB to connect North Sea wind farms to the German grid

Irish power and automation giant ABB has secured an order worth $1bn from Dutch-German transmission grid operator TenneT to supply a power link connecting offshore North Sea wind farms to the German mainland grid.

It is the largest-ever power transmission order for ABB, which claims it will deploy the world’s largest offshore HVDC (high-voltage direct current) system with a rating of more than 900 megawatts (MW) for the project, as this will keep electrical losses to less than 1pc per converter station.

When the power link is completed by 2015, ABB anticipates it will be capable of supplying more than 1.5m households with clean wind-generated electricity.

ABB will design, engineer, supply and install the offshore platform, the offshore and onshore converter stations and the land and sea cable systems.

DebsBall.ie founder sells up and moves into gaming

The Graduation Company has acquired the student web service set up by Brian Kearney in 2006, DebsBall.ie, for an undisclosed sum.

Operating since 2008, The Graduation Company has built up a network of premium businesses which target graduate students. The company provides graduation jewelry, clothing and a debs planning service via its e-commerce and event operations. 

With more than 180,000 Irish students visiting the site annually, DebsBall.ie is a strong addition to its student-focused web properties and event operations, according to managing director of The Graduation Company Robbie Godsil. 

“DebsBall.ie provides us with a strong online presence and allows us to bring to market a much sought-after audience by advertisers,” he said.

Stay informed – get daily updates on the latest happenings in technology directly to your inbox.