VENTURE CAPITAL POST

Paris, France-based event planning mobile app WePopp paired up with San Francisco, US-based restaurant booking app OpenTable to integrate restaurant booking service into the steps required to plan for a given event.

Tokyo, Japan-based Internet services company Rakuten Inc opened its first European research and development (R&D) facility in Paris, France, which is called the Rakuten Institute of Technology.

Former LA Galaxy soccer star David Beckham reportedly sought help from Qatar Sports Investment (QSI) in funding his new Major League Soccer (MLS) franchise to be established in Miami, Florida.

Paris, France-based hospitality major Accor is aiming to exit its 40% stake in Mumbai, India-based Sofitel hotel in Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) and fold the Sofitel brand into itself, according to sources.

In its fourth expansion via acquisition, Paris, France-based carpooling site BlaBlaCar added Podorozhniki for an undisclosed sum to tap into the market of Russia and Ukraine.

Germany-based car maker Audi is investing in Paris, France-based bio gasoline startup Global Bioenergies, which makes cheap gasoline from sugar, as part of an effort to decrease greenhouse gas emissions amid stricter regulations.

Paris, France-based travel startup Evaneos raised $6 million from a Series B funding round led by XAnge Private Equity for its expansion to other European countries.

Bourbon, a Paris-based operator of supply and crew ships for the oil industry, sold a dozen vessels to China's ICBC Financial Leasing as part of its plan to make a dent on its debt, Bloomberg reported.

French unions led by the National Union of Autonomous Trade Unions (UNSA) have called on Lufthansa France workers at Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris to go on strike this weekend. Workers are protesting against outsourcing ground operations, which would threaten 199 jobs.

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.

After establishing its first merchant bank in the UK, Edmond de Rothschild Group has launched a new asset management business in London to upsize its assets under management and boost its presence in the UK capital.

Veolia Environnement announced that the purchase of the 50% stake of Fomento de Construcciones y Contratas (FCC) in Proactiva Medio Ambiente has been closed in a deal valued at EUR150 million.

European Central Bank (ECB) Executive board member Benoit Coeure said the ECB plans to maintain its low interest rates or may cut them further because of low inflation.

NBAD Group CEO Alex Thursby identified seven highly urbanized cities where the bank would set up its operations.

LBO France sought to sell Groupe Poult by sending marketing materials to potential buyers and waiting for bids until the end of the month.