IN THE PAPERS
In the papers 9 October
09-10-2007
by Sylvia Leatham
Rigney Dolphin to expand Waterford workforce | Sprint Nextel CEO resigns
The Irish Times reports that German software giant SAP is to acquire French rival Business Objects. Read the full story on ENN.
The paper also says that venture capital firm Delta Partners believes its new Delta Equity Fund III could ultimately raise up to EUR150 million, as reported by ENN on Monday.
The same paper reports that Rigney Dolphin, a provider of customer support centres, plans to increase its workforce to 1,100 at its new EUR5 million contact centre in Waterford. The company, which currently employs 850 people, said the 1,100 figure was 100 more than originally anticipated.
The paper also reports on the official launch of the Irish Times digital archive at an event in Dublin on Monday night. Read more on this story as reported by ENN last month.
According to the Financial Times, LogicaCMG has chosen Andy Green, a director of BT Group, as its new chief executive. He will replace Martin Read, who resigned after the IT services group issued a profit warning in May related to problems in its UK business. The board has seen some turmoil since Read announced his departure, with a new chairman, David Tyler, selected to replace Cor Stutterheim. In July Didier Herrmann, head of the group's French, German and Swiss business was "asked to step down" and replaced by Patrick Guimbal.
The paper also says that McAfee has announced a deal to acquire SafeBoot, a Dutch maker of encryption software. The deal, worth USD350 million in cash, comes as internet security companies are scrambling to offer products that protect the personal data stored on a growing array of mobile devices. The SafeBoot deal would add to a growing stable of data security technologies at McAfee, which is best known for its antivirus and antispam software.
The Wall Street Journal notes that Google will begin showing YouTube videos on thousands of other websites, hoping to profit from ads attached to the clips. Google began showing ad-supported YouTube videos on a handful of sites earlier this year. Now, it is reaching out to its entire AdSense network, which includes an array of large and small web publishers. The material will be confined to video from providers who sign consent forms.
The paper also says that Gary Forsee has stepped down as chairman and chief executive of Sprint Nextel as the mobile operator warned investors that it continues to lose high-value subscribers and won't meet its previous financial targets. Forsee's resignation came days after news broke that the board had a search under way for a successor. That made it impossible for him to continue working, according to one source. "His ability to function was undercut by events," this person said. Sprint spokeswoman Leigh Horner said the board decided to find a successor to Forsee because "it is the right time to put in place new leadership to move the company forward."
Caped Koala Studios has built a virtual world for kids, combining education and social networking 