A roundup of today's other stories in brief.
Majority group set to buy out KFM
The majority shareholders in Kildare station KFM are submitting an offer to buy out the remaining 45 per cent minority shareholders for almost €5 million.
The majority group comprises a number of high-profile radio investors and local businesspeople including KFM chief executive and programme director Noel Shannon, radio investor Padraig O'Dwyer and KFM chairman and Naas-based accountant Billy Mulhern.
The group has already set an €11 million value on the entire company and the offer for the remaining 45 per cent of KFM will be based on that.
Irish voucher firm expands
Pay-as-you-go Visa voucher company 3V Transaction Services has raised €20 million and is to begin selling on the UK and European mainland markets.
The company, which markets vouchers used for shopping online by people who do not have or do not want to use credit or debit cards, has secured funding from Atlas Venture and Benchmark Capital Europe. The company .
The product was introduced in the Irish market in late 2005 and was introduced to the UK market yesterday.
A £2 million (€2.98 million) marketing campaign in the UK is now under way.
The planned expansion will result in 67 new jobs - most of them in Dublin - over the coming year and a half.
Zamano floats on London's AIM
Dublin-based mobile data services firm Zamano has floated on the Alternative Investment Market (AIM) of the London Stock Exchange.
Zamano reported that it raised £4 million (€6 million) through the flotation, which it will use to make strategic acquisitions, increase investment in new technology and expand into new territories.
C&C chief joins BT board
The chief executive of C&C, Maurice Pratt, has been appointed to the board of Brown Thomas. Mr Pratt is non-executive chairman of Bank of Scotland (Ireland), a former non-executive director of Eircom and past president of employers' confederation Ibec.
Mr Pratt joined C&C in 2002 from Tesco (Ireland), where he had been managing director.
Readymix to rebrand as Cemex
Readymix is to rebrand its operations under the name of its majority shareholder, Cemex. Readymix (ROI), Readymix (NI) and Island Aggregates will operate under the names Cemex (ROI), Cemex (NI)and Cemex Island Aggregates from today.
The company will continue to be listed on the Irish Stock Exchange as Readymix plc.
Readymix has the right to use the Cemex brand name and trademarks in Ireland following an arms-length commercial agreement with majority shareholder.
Jagran's net profits increase 135.2%
Jagran Prakashan Limited, the Indian publisher 21 per cent owned by Independent News & Media, announced a 135.2 per cent increase in net profit for its second quarter ended September 30th, 2006.
Bank of Scotland Ireland rates
Bank of Scotland Ireland do disclose their business lending rate, contrary to an article last Wednesday. The rate is based on the Euribor rate and is currently running at 7.5 per cent.
