US firm buys ITG for pounds 146m

ITG, snapped up for pounds 146m by Concentric Network Internet Technology Group, the AIM-listed Internet service provider, is to be taken over in a pounds 146m buyout by Concentric Network of the United States.

ITG is being valued at 253p a share. The deal includes ITG's non-ISP assets being rolled into a new company called Red Wave for 17.4p per share. "We had a strong desire to expand into Europe," said Hank Nothhaft, chairman and chief executive of Concentric. "ITG has a strong operation in the UK and the operation in the Netherlands will be a stepping off point to going in to Europe." Concentric specialises in providing high-speed Internet access, e-commerce and other Web-related services to small and medium- sized businesses. ITG operates two subscription and two free ISPs.