VENTURE CAPITAL POST

Verizon CEO's demeanor and relationship with Vodafone was key to the deal being finalized.

Microsoft said it would be buying the handset business of Finnish company Nokia for EUR5.44 billion or USD7.2 billion, with Nokia CEO Elop and other senior executives transferring to the American multinational software firm.

With the pending completion of the third largest deal in history, the CEOs of Verizona and Vodafone are near the goal that had eluded their predecessors.

The Dogan Group made a USD 742 million offer to purchase 53% of Digiturk, a digital pay-TV provider.

John Malone, the US cable magnate who owns Liberty Global Plc said the company would consider proposals but is content with how the company is at present.

Imperial Tobacco announced that it would buy the e-cigarette unit of Dragonite International Ltd in a deal worth USD 75 million.

Japanese E-commerce giant Rakuten acquired video streaming site Viki for a reported USD200 million.

Austrian oil firm OMV announced that it had agreed to buy a 40% stake in an offshore exploration block in Madagascar from Niko Resources.

Rolls-Royce had sold its 50% stake in the RTM322 helicopter engine program to its program partner Turbomeca by Safran for EUR239 million or USD386 million.

Indofood Sukses Makmur Tbk PT has been considering a hostile takeover of Singapore-listed China Minzhong Food Corp Ltd after a short-seller attack decreased the Chinese food producer's market value.

Etihad plans to invest USD600 million in Jet Airways after approval from Indian authorities.

According to two sources who were familiar with the decision, Verizon Communications and Vodafone Group would be announcing a finalization of the USD130 billion exit deal, which would be financed in cash, stock and bank financing.

The boards of Verizon and Vodafone would vote over the weekend on the proposed USD130 billion buyout.

A Reuters report cited Wall Street Journal sources who said that Cumulus Media, a radio broadcasting company set its sight on buying out Dial Global, a content producer, for USD260 million in cash.

A source told Reuters that the European Union Commission will approve Swedish oil refiner Nynas and Royal Dutch Shell's deal despite antitrust concerns.