First Derivatives buys UK businesses

NEWRY-BASED specialist financial software company First Derivatives has bought three London-based businesses, spending £3

NEWRY-BASED specialist financial software company First Derivatives has bought three London-based businesses, spending £3.15 million (€3.95 million) on the niche firms.

The company announced the acquisition of Redshift Horizons Ltd, which provides design capability for real-time electronic trading systems; investment management partnership Redshift Horizons LLP; and application and consulting services firm Cowrie Financial.

The deal includes £2.05 million to be paid on completion, about £450,000 of loan notes, and £650,000 of deferred consideration.

The three firms had a combined operating profit of £628,000 in the year to December 31st 2011. The acquisitions are expected to be immediately earnings-enhancing, before acquisition-related costs. About 22 permanent employees will be added to First Derivatives as a result.

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Chief executive Brian Conlon said the acquisitions were in line with its strategy and would further enhance the capabilities and scope of its Delta software suite.

Ciara O'Brien

Ciara O'Brien

Ciara O'Brien is an Irish Times business and technology journalist