VENTURE CAPITAL POST

Christer Gardell, who co-founded Europe's biggest activist investor Cevian Capital, expects a burst of activity in mergers and acquisitions next year as corporate confidence returns.

Student rental marketplace FlatClub raised USD1.5 million from angel investors and venture capitalists to build more transient rooms and apartments across the US and Europe.

France's Accor on Wednesday announced a plan to break up the hotel group in order to improve its performance and shareholder returns. Accor, the largest hotel group in Europe, owns luxury and upscale brands such as Sofitel and The Sebel.

According to a research study by Dow Jones & Company, Ireland attracted the most venture capital funding per capita in the European region. The data showed that most Irish tech startups have fared well even during the economic recession.

Bain Capital has began raising USD3.5 billion for its fourth European private equity fund. The American private equity firm also offered its investors two fee structure to choose from.

Telecommunications and information technology (IT) service provider Coms PLC announced that it has completed the acquisition of Redstone Converged Solutions Ltd in a deal valued at GBP9.5 million.

UK equity-based crowdfunding platform Seedrs announced that it is crowd-raising GBP500,000 using its own site to reach out to European investors and startups outside of the UK.

Europe's top carmaker Volkswagen (VW) has revealed its plan to invest EUR84.2 billion in the next five years for technology upgrades and modernization of its plants.

PSA Peugeot Citroen is preparing to replace its present Chief Executive Officer Philippe Varin for a joint venture with Chinese partner Dongfeng, according to sources familiar with the matter.

France's PSA Peugeot Citroen is looking into various ways of expanding its partnership with Chinese state-run car manufacturer Dongfeng Motor Corporation.

Hong Kong-based tech startup Multichannel raised USD3 million in a seed round from angel investors in Asia and Europe to be used for the improvement of the company's marketing spend tracker.

International consumer packaging company Chesapeake Services and packaging solutions firm Multi Packaging Solutions Inc entered into a definitive agreement to merge, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approval.

European private equity group 21 Partners agreed to purchase French pharmaceutical manufacturing company Synerlab from premium independent private investment firm Ardian for an undisclosed amount.

Euronext attracted individual bids from three exchange firms just a week after the company was acquired by IntercontinentalExchange Group Inc, according to sources familiar with the matter.

UK-based Aberdeen Asset Management revealed its plan to take away businesses from US investment managers such as BlackRock and Vanguard after completing the acquisition of Scottish Widows Investment Partnership (SWIP).