UK-based independent private equity firm Vitruvian Partners closed USD1.6 billion (EUR1.2 billion) in a fundraising round for its second fund, the Vitruvian Investment Partnership II (VIP II).

BNP Paribas, the largest bank in France, said it will be buying Bank Gospodarki Zywnosciowej, the Polish arm of Dutch bank Rabobank Groep, for EUR 1 billion.

AT&T will be up against smaller rival T-Mobile should the former decide to offer a bid for Verizon Wireless' spectrum block. Verizon, which bought the asset for USD2.4 billion, is seeking to generate USD2.75 billion from the sale.

Colorado firm CSG has bought the key assets of mobile and broadband policy and charging solutions provider Volubill in a deal that will help CSG expand its market reach.

Investors including the Bucks County Water & Sewer Authority in Pennsylvania, the city of Baltimore and the Central Bucks School District agreed to settle the municipal bond-rigging case it filed against Bank of America Corp.

The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has approved Verizon's to buyout of Vodafone's stake in Verizon Wireless for USD130 billion, giving Verizon full ownership of the said network.

Swiss bank UBS Ag said Ulrich Koerner will be replacing John Fraser as Head of Global Asset Management. Fraser is set to retire by the end of month.

The Chinese government on Thursday cleared the USD1.3 billion car-making joint venture between Dongfeng Motor Group and France's Renault. Under the deal, the two companies will manufacture 150,000 multi-purpose vehicles annually.

Despite the rally posted by Sears Holding Corp on the stock exchange this year, which made it one of the best performers of the US listed stocks held by hedge fund ESL Partners, a Bloomberg report said some of the investors of hedge fund were not happy about it at all.

Australia-based news firm APN News & Media has agreed to exit from its remaining stake in outdoor advertising company APN outdoor for USD69 million, prompting a 5% increase in its shares.