Finland's pension fund and largest private investor Varma said it would be increasing its equities investments for the second quarter of 2013.
Europe
European Commission okays mobile payments venture in Spain
The EU approves the joint venture to create a new mobile commerce venture in Spain. A new venture that focuses on the future of mobile commerce in Spain has been approved by the European Commission.
Manchester United signs new sponsorship deal with Bulova
Bulova replaced Hublot as Manchester United's official timekeeper. Manchester United inked a new three-year sponsorship agreement with Bulova. The US watchmaker would now be the official timekeeper of the second-richest sports franchise in the world.
EQT backs growth of Swiss Smile
Private equity company EQT invested CHF 44 million in Swiss Smile. Nordic private equity firm EQT announced that it has backed Swiss dental chain Swiss Smile with a CHF 44 million investment.
BC Partners schedules Foxtons IPO for August: sources
Sources said that BC Partners Ltd would be holding its IPO a month earlier than originally planned. Sources told Financial News private equity company BC Partners Ltd (formerly Baring Capital Investors Ltd) was preparing its initial public offering (IPO) for its Foxtons Ltd shares this August.
Latest News
Liberty Global said it would exhaust all legal avenues to fight a recent decision issued by a German court nullifying its purchase of a cable firm
An independent foundation of KPN questioned billionaire Carlos Slim's motive for bidding for the remaining shares of the Dutch firm that he does not already own.
Generator Hostel is on acquisition spree backed by Patron Capital. The award winning urban design hostels group, Generator, had announced the acquisition of two further locations in both Paris and Rome.
Two sources told Reuters that Barclays was mulling the sale of its UAE retail banking operations. Two sources told Reuters that Barclays is considering a sale of its retail banking business in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Triton Fund announced that it would acquire Alpine Energie from FCC. The Triton Fund announced that it had agreed to purchase Alpine Energie from Fomento de Construcciones y Contratas SA (FCC).
A newspaper reported that British bank Lloyds Banking Group received bids for its Australian businesses.
In a released statement, the European Commission questioned Italian telecom watchdog AGCOM about the changes it wanted to implement to the prices of broadband.
Groupama sold its last stake in SocGen for EUR 517.8 million. French insurance company Groupe des Assurances Mutuelles Agricoles (Groupama) finally sold its remaining 1.
Mergers would enable Austrian regional banks to save money for a Volksbanken buy back. An official representing Austrian regional banks told newspaper Kurier that mergers would enable them to save money to help buy back Volksbanken AG.
