Spinvox wins access to Alltel’s 12m clients

Spinvox, which converts mobile voicemail into text, has secured a landmark deal to offer its service to customers of Alltel, the American mobile giant. The British group, which was founded by Christina Domecq, of the Spanish sherry empire, is to be made available to Alltel’s 12 million-strong customer base from the fourth quarter of this year. The business’s backers include Scott Mead, the former Goldman Sachs banker who helped Vodafone to orchestrate the £101 billion acquisition of Mannesmann. (Elizabeth Judge)

Chinese drug deal

ChiMed, which derives medicines from traditional Chinese therapies, has signed a deal to develop oncology and inflammation treatments for Eli Lily. The American group will pay annual research costs and discovery bonuses of between $20 million and $29 million per medicine. ChiMed is majority-owned by Hutchison Whampoa, the Hong Kong-based group. (David Robertson)

Goodman scheme

Goodman, the developer formerly known as Macquarie Goodman, has signed an agreement with Birmingham City Council and Advantage West Midlands, the regeneration agency, to develop the £450 million Ventureast scheme in Birmingham’s Eastside covering 1.1 million sq ft of offices and homes. Goodman expects to submit a planning application in 2008. (James Rossiter)

Irish offer for hotels

An Irish bidder has offered £685 million for the Malmaison and Hotel du Vin hotel chains put up for sale by Marylebone Warwick Balfour. The PREM Group, Ireland’s largest hotel developer, has been tipped as the bidder. MWB put the hotels up for sale last month after a planned disposal into the Vector Hospitality real estate investment trust collapsed when Vector’s float was pulled. (James Rossiter)

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