First Derivatives in 拢41m share buyout

Image caption, First Derivatives' head office is based on Canal Quay, near Sugar Island, in Newry

Newry based financial technology firm, First Derivatives is to to buy out minority shareholders KX Systems.

The company specialises in financial analysis software and employs more than 2,000 people.

First Derivatives is to pay $53.8m (拢41m) for 600,022 shares.

The terms of the transaction are in line with those agreed between the company and the minority shareholders in October 2014.

It includes a payment of $12.0m (拢9.15m) in lieu of anticipated dividends to the minority shareholders for the period up to 31 October 2021.

Image caption, Kainos has approximately 730 staff across its seven offices

Also the Belfast-based IT firm Kainos is to benefit from 拢8m of investment for research and development.

The money will support the company's automated testing platform designed for US based software vendor, Workday's cloud-based HR and financial management software.

Kainos has headquarters in Belfast and has approximately 730 staff across its seven offices.

Invest Northern Ireland is to contribute 拢2.4m to the project.