VENTURE CAPITAL POST

The French state divested a 1% stake in Netherlands-based aircraft and defense firm Airbus Group for €451 million ($614 million), according to the French economy minister.

A Dutch arbitration court on Friday ordered American luxury jewelry retailer Tiffany & Co. to pay Swiss watchmaker Swatch Group $449 million in damages over their failed 20-year joint venture.

Al Waha Capital, AerCap's largest shareholder with a 26.3% stake, is in favor of the Dutch aircraft leasing company's $5.4 billion acquisition of International Finance Corp. ILFC is owned by American International Group.

Sources said that American International Group is close to a deal to make its exit from International Lease Finance Corp. to Netherlands' AerCap Holdings NV. Under the deal, AIG will reportedly receive $3 billion in cash and $2.4 billion in stock.

American International Group is said to be negotiating the sale of International Lease Finance Corp. to Netherlands-based independent aircraft lessor AerCap Holdings NV. In December 2012, AIG agreed to sell as much as 90% stake in ILFC to a Chinese consortium for $4.7 billion.

South Korea's Financial Services Commission on Wednesday cleared MBK Partners' $1.75 billion acquisition of ING Groep's Korean insurer. MBK bought 8.2 million shares in ING Life Korea.

India-based mobile operator Bharti Airtel has raised EUR750 million in a bond issue that received bids worth EUR3.8 billion. The bond issue aimed to refinance the company's existing debt.

Software solutions maker Datel, the leading Sage Business Partner in the UK, announced its acquisition of the Sage 200 customer base from Pythagoras Communications Ltd.

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.

Netherland's DSM said it would spin off its pharmaceuticals division to private equity firm JLL Partners for USD2.6 billion. The post-spin off company would be developing and manufacturing drugs under contract.

Private equity firm Advent International made a cash offer of USD1.58 billion for Dutch business software maker UNIT4 NV in a deal that was recommended by UNIT4 to its shareholders.

Virginia-based tech firm A-T Solutions acquired counterterrorism firm GreenLine Systems for an undisclosed amount to reinforce the border protection and transportation security of the US.

Netherlands-based LED lighting solutions developer Ledzworld recently received USD5 million in funding to be used for the acceleration of its sales, manufacturing, and global expansion.

After thirty of its employees got involved in the manipulation of interest rates, Rabobank had paid a combined EUR774 million in fines.

Nearly USD1 billion would be the settlement amount to be paid by Rabobank for allegations of interest rate manipulation for the Japanese yen.