The consolidation of security software companies FireEye and Mandiant was said to have signaled the hesitation of US firms to entrust the federal government the responsibility to protect its computer systems and will turn to private security providers instead, said a New York Times report.

Shares in French liquor company Remy Cointreau declined by more than 2% to €59.19 per share on Friday, following the resignation of its chief executive officer Frederic Pflanz. Pflanz quit his post three months after being promoted from his role as chief operating officer.

The central bank of Finland has expressed its worry about the possibility of the country's debt ballooning should no monetary reforms to curb spending take place, according to a Bloomberg report.

According to social marketing company Spredfast, who has accumulated over $60 million in funding to date, it has raised $32.5 million in Series D funding from several investors led by Lead Edge Capital.

Ezra Klein of The Washington Post's Wonkblog might be leaving the newspaper, said four sources, after his proposed news media venture was rejected by upper management, including owner Jeff Bezos.

Citing sources, Bloomberg reported that Singaporean lender Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp or OCBC has submitted a binding offer for Hong Kong-based family-run lender Wing Hang Bank Ltd.

In a bid to generate sales outside the country, Switzerland-based dairy company Emmi has signed an agreement to buy half of Mexico-based cheese and fresh product exporter Mexideli for an undisclosed sum.

Norway-based private equity group HitecVision has announced a growth capital investment in well intervention services provider DeepWell AS in a deal that marks HitecVision's entry into the well intervention industry.

Cox Enterprises, a media conglomerate based in Atlanta, has bought back its 25% stake in e-commerce company AutoTrader Group for $1.8 billion. Cox sold the said stake to private equity firm Providence Equity Parters for $640 million in 2010.

US-based firm Cooper Tire & Rubber Company announced via press release that it has called off its merger plans with India-based manufacturer Apollo Tyres and will focus on building its business instead.