Buying Up Start-Ups From Across the Sea

With the prospects for Internet start-ups sinking in the U.S., a Santa Monica-based Net business consultant has decided to focus overseas. NetCatalyst is expected to announce this week that it has agreed to acquire NetStrategy, an Italian company that incubates and advises Internet firms. NetCatalyst also is expected to reveal that it has purchased a minority stake in Mindship, a London firm that facilitates joint ventures, mergers, acquisitions and technology transfers for Internet start-ups in Europe and Asia. The two deals would cost privately held NetCatalyst $35 million in stock.