VENTURE CAPITAL POST

Ireland-based same-day hotel booking startup Hot Hotels bagged $1 million (€730,000) in funding from private investors and accelerator funds to fuel its expansion into Europe and South America.

Dublin, Ireland-based global communications services firm WPP Digital picked up a majority stake in London, UK-based digital consultancy firm Cognifide for an undisclosed sum in a deal that will deliver mutual benefits to both companies.

Northern Ireland-based energy investor Tom O'Gorman bought the Blarney Golf Resort in Co Cork for €2.5 million (£2 million) and confirmed that the company will continue operate as usual.

Dublin, Ireland-based oil exploration firm PetroNeft Resources raised $6.7 million (€4.8 million) in combined share placement and debt facility to support the development of its oilfield in Russia.

Ireland saw a 6% increase in its venture capital activity with the help of private investors who poured in £237 million (€284 million) in investments in 2013.

Belfast, Ireland-based analytics and big data firm Analytics Engines secured $1.6 million (£1 million) in a funding round led by Crescent Capital to develop its software accelerating platform and widen its market reach.

Dublin, Ireland-based social media analytics startup Eagle Alpha bagged $1.5 million (€1.1 million) in angel funding from former investment banker Emmett Kilduff to develop its product offering and beef up its salesforce.

Dublin, Ireland-based over-the-counter (OTC) drug manufacturer Perrigo Company PLC picked up a set of products being marketed in Australia and New Zealand from South African firm Aspen Global Inc in a $51-million cash deal.

Dublin, Ireland-based public investment holding company TVC Holdings offloaded 7.6 million shares in Northern Ireland-based media broadcaster UTV in a deal valued at €22.1 million, reducing its stake from 18% to 10.05%.

Even if venture capital invested a quarter of a billion euros in Ireland-based firms last year, the Irish fundraising market is already slowing, the Irish Examiner reported.

County Kerry, Ireland-based financial services provider Fexco will UK-based foreign exchange firm InterCash for an undisclosed sum to establish the firm's position in the market as the country's economy starts growing again.

Dublin, Ireland-based media holding firm Communicorp snapped up eight stations from London, UK-based media and publishing holding group Global Radio in a deal valued at £35 million as the latter was forced by the Competition Commission to do so.

AgriFood Business Partners Finance Director Cathal Fitzgerald urged Ireland's food processors and dairy cooperatives to seek capital from private venture sources, the Irish Examiner reported.

Dublin, Ireland-based firm Top Level Domain Holdings bagged $33 million in funding from its investors to beef up its bidding power in the upcoming private auctions of new Internet domains.

Ireland-based food and agribusiness group Origin Enterprises completed the purchase of a 60% stake in Ukraine-based firm Agroscope in a deal valued at $17.6 million (€12.7 million).