DIMENSION Data (Didata) spent the first 200m portion of the funds it raised in its London listing last month when it bought the remaining stake in the British-based network integration services firm, Chernikeeff Networks. Didata bought the 50.01 percent it did not already own in Chernikeeff from founder Peter Harrison, who will stay on at Didata. The move is part of plans to buy the outstanding interests in three of its subsidiaries. Didata said it would finance the buy with a combination of shares worth 12m and loan notes which mature in April 2008, but which may be redeemed earlier at Harrison’s discretion. Didata chairperson Jeremy Ord said the move would enable the consolidation and rebranding of the group’s UK business. The tech company raised some $1.4bn in the London listing, would be used for U.S. and European acquisitions. Some $500m of the proceeds is to be used to buy out the outstanding interests in Chernikeeff, Australia’s Com Tech Communications and British GK Communications. Negotiations for the purchase of the minority interests in Com Tech and GK were under way and should be concluded ”quite soon”. – Reuters