VENTURE CAPITAL POST

In a bid to match Silicon Valley's success, the European Commission (EC) launched the Startup Europe Partnership tech startup accelerator and the European Digital Forum think tank at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

Limerick, Ireland-based environmental software developer AMCS Group closed €23.5 million in a funding round led by Highland Capital Partners Europe (HCPE) for its expansion into Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and the Americas.

Berlin, Germany-based multi-mode travel search engine GoEuro received millions in investment in a post-seed funding round from Lakestar to expand its market footprint beyond the UK, Germany, and Spain.

India-based IT and engineering services provider Global Economic Advantage Pvt Ltd purchased Samtel Engineering and Sourcing Solutions Pvt Ltd including its wholly owned German unit for an undisclosed sum.

Germany-based investor-startup matchmaker Venturate has been launched to compete with US-based firm AngelList, a platform that helps lead venture capitalists to the right investment that would fit in their portfolio.

Private equity firms KKR & Co and Permira Advisers exited a 16.6% holding in German commercial broadcaster ProSiebenSat.1 Media AG (PSM)in a deal valued at around €1.26 billion ($1.7 billion).

The French state divested a 1% stake in Netherlands-based aircraft and defense firm Airbus Group for €451 million ($614 million), according to the French economy minister.

UK-based institutional currency investment manager Millennium Global Holdings Inc acquired a 51% stake in Philippine-based seafood exports business Millennium Ocean Star Corp in a deal valued at PHP137.91 million.

Germany-based venture capital firm Global Founders Capital and Luxembourg-based firm Redline Capital invested €6.1 million ($8.3 million) in UK-based short-term e-commerce business loans startup Iwoca.

Ian Brady, chief investment officer of California-based firm Oak Tree Wealth Management Ltd, cautioned about taking risk in credit and property, saying performance in 2014 will be hard to come by.

England-based rigid plastic packaging products supplier RPC Group PLC has added Bosnia and Herzegovina-based injection molder Helioplast d.o.o. in a deal valued at £8.4 million ($13 million).

Norway-based newsprint and magazine paper manufacturer Norske Skog inked an agreement to exit its remaining stake in its Brazilian operations to Papeles Bio Bio SA for $37 million.

Bitcoin ATM startup Robocoin intended to prioritize the demand of Bitcoins in the Asian region with the planned debut of its ATMs in Hong Kong and Taiwan this January, said a TechCrunch report.

BlackRock Inc's Asia Property Fund III is exiting its Westin hotel in Singapore to Tokyo-based property developer Daisho Group in a deal valued at S$468 million ($369 million).

Dubai-based construction company Arabtec Holding had no plans to up its stake in interior contracting firm Depa, according to a statement made by Arabtec to Dubai's bourse.