Eontec: The sale this week of Dublin-based Eontec to US multinational Siebel Systems for $70 million (€59 billion) cash and a potential earn out of up to $60 million, was one of the largest Irish software company deals to date.

The sale of the banking software company, founded in 1994, was the latest, and by far the largest, of a number of developments in recent days and weeks that could be seen as heralding a return to form of the technology sector.

Eontec, based in the East Point Business Park, is believed to have been suffering losses in recent years but may make a small profit this year.

The company employs 150 people and has offices in the UK, the US, mainland Europe, and Asia. It includes a number of blue-chip financial institutions among its customers.

The main Eontec shareholders were Warburg Pincus, ICC Venture Capital, and founder-director Mr James Callan, in that order. Mr Callan had 6.7 million of the company's 38 million shares and so seems likely to gain in the region of €17 million from the sale.

Raidtec: Earlier this week Cork-based data storage specialists, Raidtec, was sold to UK company Plasmon in an all-share deal valued at more than €5 million.

Plasmon, listed in London, issued 1.6 million new shares to buy Raidtec's share capital for €2.25 million and to repay shareholders' loans to Raidtec of approximately €2.86 million. The shares were valued for the deal at the closing price on April 15th.

The two companies have been jointly developing a new project for the past 18 months.

Raidtec develops and manufactures network and disc-based data storage systems and has originated its own technology. It was founded by Mr Noel May in 1991.

Performix: Software group Performix announced on Tuesday that it had raised $10 million in new equity to strengthen its position in the call centre market and to expand into new areas.

The company was founded in 1998 by Donegal brothers Cathal and Ray McGloin.

It produces software that measures the performance of employees and has more than 100 staff. It is an Irish company with its headquarters in the US since last year. It has now raised more than $35 million in venture capital funding.

Web Reservations: Dublin company Web Reservations International, a provider of online bookings and reservations technology, announced last week that it had received an undisclosed amount of funding from Summit Partners, an international private equity and venture capital firm. Founded in 1999, Web Reservations runs the hostelworld.com and hostels.com brands, which cater for the budget, independent and youth travel sector.

The company said it would use the undisclosed amount of funding for expansion and the introduction of new services.

CNG Travel: Dr Michael Smurfit was last week appointed a non-executive director of CNG Travel, a software and hotel room distribution company based in Kenmare, Co Kerry, and which plans to list on the London Alternative Investment Market next month.

The firm hopes to raise $40 million from the May 7th flotation, which could value the company at approximately €200 million. The major shareholders in the company include chief executive Mr Finbarr Power and Menolly Homes Ltd. Dr Smurfit has also taken a shareholding. Mr Ralph Manaker, a very wealthy US businessman, has also joined the board as a non-executive director.

Alphyra: Alphyra, Europe's leading electronic transaction business, was earlier this week reported to be considering a return to the stock market.

The Dublin-based firm, which employs 500 and delisted from the Dublin and London exchanges a year ago, may seek a listing on the Nasdaq, the electronic market in the US that specialises in young companies.

But a spokesman for the firm said a relisting was just one of several options open to Alphyra and that no advisers had been appointed to prepare for any return to the stock market.

The firm was the subject last year of a management buyout led by chief executive Mr John Nagle. The buyout was supported by Benchmark Capital, a global technology venture capital firm. Mr Barry Maloney, former chief executive of Esat Digifone, (now O2 Ireland) is a partner in Benchmark, now the firm's leading shareholder.