VENTURE CAPITAL POST

The French government hoped to help fund new state investments and boost national economy by divesting 3.5% of its stake in jet engine maker Safran.

US-based global private equity firm Advent International signed an agreement to purchase a USD1.1 billion minority stake in Ocensa, Colombia's biggest oil pipeline in terms of capacity.

The government of France had taken plans to pay debts incurred from the collapse of Credit Lyonnais, said a Reuters report.

Standard & Poor's downgraded France's credit rating from AA+ to AA, citing President Francois Hollande's ineffective growth policies.

By raising USD875 million on its market debut, Numericable recorded th biggest IPO in the French market for the past four years.

Opthalmic lens maker Essilor announced it plan to buy sunglass company Costa for USD270 to tap the growing market of prescription sun lens.

Belgian medical equipment company Arseus struck a deal to acquire a pharmaceutical software maker in Brazil called Alternate Technologies.

Food giant Nestle announced its intention to sell the bulk of its Jenny Craig business to private equity firm North Castle Partners.

According to Alcatel-Lucent SA CEO Michael Combes, investor confidence has returned to the French technology manufacturing firm.

Like a death in the family, union members of PSA Peugeot Citroen factory located in Aulnay, France mourn the closure of the 40 year old plan.

The earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization for Orange SA declined as both sales revenues and share prices also declined.

French frozen baking industry leader Europeene des Desserts was recently bought out by Equistone Partners Europe Ltd's Fund IV.

The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership had faced gale winds and now stands to undergo rough seas.

There has been an increasing clamor from politicians, store associations and laborers alike to ease store hours regulations amidst a struggling French economy.

France and the European Union are conducting inquiries as to the tactics employed by Apple that would violate antitrust regulations.