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.

UK-based media firm Channel 4 (C4) is getting ready to launch a $33 million (£20 million) growth fund that will be invested in various indie production companies in the country.

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.

Johannesburg, South Africa-based independent retirement fund administrator Alexander Forbes Ltd sold its 60% holding in Lane Clark & Peacock's Swiss unit for an undisclosed sum last year, ahead of a 2014 initial public offering (IPO).

Tony Gallagher, the editor of UK-based newspaper Daily Telegraph, stepped down from his position amid a restructuring program as the company prepares to shift its focus to digital publishing.

Former Philippine trade minister Roberto V. Ongpin and his associates have hiked their collective holding in real estate developer Alphaland Corp to 50.57%, diluting British fund Ashmore's interest to 24.41%.

Bristol, UK-based frozen yogurt seller AngelBerry turned to crowdfunding to raise at least £150,000 via Crowdcube to fund its plan to expand to 100 stores worldwide by 2016.

US-based global private investment firm Starwood Capital Group has acquired UK-based hotel owner and operator Four Pillars Hotels through an unnamed affiliated fund for an undisclosed amount.

Atlanta, US-based consumer credit reporting company Equifax acquired UK-based technology firm TDX Group in a deal valued at $327 million to expand its data and analytics services beyond the US.

A report on UK-based news firm The Guardian cited Sagan Ltd marketing director David Kay saying porn could help the online currency Bitcoin succeed because of its private and quick transaction methods.

Advertising spending in the UK for the third quarter of 2013 has hit the fastest pace recorded according to a survey from IPA Bellwether, the Financial Times reported.

Chennai, India-based billing startup ChargeBee raised around $800,000 in a Series A funding round from Accel Partners, bringing its total raised capital to $1.17 million.

Sports Direct, the biggest sporting goods seller in the UK, picked up a 4.6% stake in London-based multinational retail chain Debenhams for an undisclosed sum.

London-based alternative asset management firm Resonance Asset Management LLP bought four wind farms in the UK after raising $100 million from institutional investors for its first Resonance British Wind Energy Income fund.

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.