Online auctioneer QXL's takeover of German rival ricardo.de is back on track but at a vastly smaller value, valuing ricardo at £171 million - about a quarter of the original amount.

The dive in the value of the deal comes a week after QXL cast doubt over the takeover, saying new information had come to light.

The deal originally valued Ricardo at £668 million. However, 80 per cent of the loss in the take-out price is due to share price fluctuations as both company's shares have suffered since May.