Jonathan Keane

3 weeks ago | thecurrency.news | Jonathan Keane

The words “Draghi report” are still haunting the halls of Brussels almost a year after the document landed on the desk of the European Commission, diagnosing a near-fatal state of affairs for Europe’s competitiveness. Tariffs and trade ructions from the Trump presidency have only bolstered that fear, and it was against that backdrop last week that the European Commission unveiled its new strategy to boost European start-ups and scale-ups.

3 weeks ago | thecurrency.news | Jonathan Keane

Starlink, the satellite internet service owned by Elon Musk’s Space X, is closing in on building a new satellite earth station in Ireland. The firm, which provides high-speed internet to consumers, businesses and governments through a network of satellites, filed an application to establish infrastructure in Mayo. ComReg, the communications regulator, has proposed to grant the application but is inviting public comment before final sign-off.

3 weeks ago | thecurrency.news | Jonathan Keane

Nordson, the $12 billion (€10.5 billion) manufacturing firm, is selling off its Galway base as part of a strategy to “simplify” its medical device business. Quasar Medical, a Singapore-headquartered company, has agreed to acquire the Galway-based design and manufacturing business. A spokesperson for Nordson told The Currency that the sale was part of an effort to “simplify its product portfolio to bring greater focus to our target growth areas”.

3 weeks ago | thecurrency.news | Jonathan Keane

Wellman International, a recycling and manufacturing business more than 50 years old, has gone into interim examinership after its parent withdrew support for the company. The company manufactures polyester fibre products from recycled plastic bottles and employs 215 people but has racked up significant losses in the last two years. Kieran Wallace of Interpath Advisory has been appointed interim examiner of the Cavan-based business.

4 weeks ago | thecurrency.news | Jonathan Keane

When Brightflag closed its last funding round in 2020, chief executive Ian Nolan said the company was ready for a new reality. That reality was one typified by artificial intelligence and the Covid-19 pandemic upending the legal profession. Five years later, the company is entering another new reality, announcing that it is being acquired by Dutch IT firm Wolters Kluwer for €425 million.