A round-up of today's other stories in brief...

Trading and risk management software wins seedcorn prize

Trading and risk management software firm Barracuda FX has won the €100,000 prize for Best High Growth Company at InterTradeIreland’s annual Seedcorn competition. Based in Dublin’s IFSC where it employs 20 staff, Barracuda FX’s foreign exchange order management system allows banks to better manage their foreign exchange business.

Epona Biotech, which is developing a portable blood analysis product for use on horses, won the Best Emerging Company award which comes with a cash prize of €50,000.

Dixons predicts tough Christmas

Currys and PC World parent Dixons Retail predicted Christmas trading would be competitive and tough as it reported slowing UK sales growth.

Dixons said like-for-like sales in the UK and Ireland rose by 2 per cent in the first half of its financial year, down from the 6 per cent improvement reported in the first quarter following a World Cup-related boost to television sales.

But the group said it outperformed a tough market and slashed underlying losses in the half year, down from £16 million to £10.7 million in the UK and Ireland.

Dixons chief executive John Browett put faith in the group’s store overhaul project to help it through “an extremely competitive” festive season.

It has now refitted 250 stores, with 25 launched under the megastore format across the UK.

Nickel oxide deposit identified

Exploration firm African Eagle Resources says internal deposit modelling at its Zanzui project in Tanzania has shown potential for a significant nickel oxide deposit.

The company says the drilling showed an exploration target of at least 20 million tonnes at 0.9 to 1 per cent equivalent nickel, with geophysical data indicating good potential to increase this.

A further eight targets have been identified from the data.

“Together, African Eagle’s Zanzui and Dutwa nickel deposits are shaping up to be an important nickel province,” managing director Mark Parker said.

“The company has already delineated resources close to one million tonnes of contained nickel equivalent in its Dutwa inventory and the deposit at Zanzui should help surpass this significant milestone.”

Del Monte says yes to $5.3bn deal

Del Monte Foods Co and an investor group led by funds affiliated with Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co, Vestar Capital Partners and Centerview Partners said they have signed a definitive agreement under which the investors will acquire Del Monte for $19 per share in cash. The transaction,which was unanimously approved by Del Monte's board, is valued at approximately $5.3 billion, including the assumption of $1.3 billion in debt. - (Bloomberg)

Apax announces ASM purchase

Private equity firm Apax Partners LLP says funds it is advising have agreed to buy a majority stake in marketing agency Advantage Sales Marketing (ASM). The terms of the deal, estimated to be worth $1.8 billion, were not disclosed.

Apax and ASM expect the deal to close by the end of this year. ASM’s leadership team will continue to manage day-to-day operations after the deal closes. ASM estimated its 2010 revenues at about $1 billion. - (Reuters)