VENTURE CAPITAL POST

China-based rare earth metals producer Inner Mongolia Baotou Steel Rare Earth Group has added nine regional mining firms as part of a government bid to consolidate the industry.

Dubai-based construction company Arabtec Holding had no plans to up its stake in interior contracting firm Depa, according to a statement made by Arabtec to Dubai's bourse.

Toshiba Corp is presently still in talks to buy a 50% stake in Britain-based NuGen nuclear consortium although the involved parties have yet to reach a deal, according to Toshiba Chief Executive Officer Hisao Tanaka.

Brazil-based iron ore miner Vale agreed to sell a stake in logistics company VLI SA to Canadian firm Brookfield Asset Management in a deal valued at BRL2 billion ($842.78 million).

Blackstone Group LP-backed hotel chain La Quinta Holdings Inc confidentially filed for an initial public offering (IPO) with the US Securities and Exchange Commission under the Jumpstart Our Business Startups (JOBS) Act.

Frankfurt, Germany-based private equity firm Nordic Capital said on Friday it has raised €3.5 billion ($4.8 billion) for its eight buyout fund amid decreased volatility in Europe.

Italy's state backed Fondo Strategico Italiano (FSI) and private equity firm CCMP Capital are leading the race to secure a minority stake in Italian luxury goods group Versace.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) will turn over one of its idled space-shuttle launch pad to Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX), according to officials on Friday.

India-based firm GMR Infrastructure Ltd said exit deal of its 40% interest in Istanbul's Sabiha Gokcen airport was still in progress, after a local paper reported it had already closed the deal for €220 million ($302.58 million).

Russian state-controlled telecom firm Rostelecom could sell up to RUB46 billion (USD1.4 billion) worth of shares in a secondary stock offering next year to help cut its debt.

South Africa-based asset manager Oasis Group Holdings has sold off its 2.2% stake in pharmaceutical firm Adcock Ingram to an undisclosed buyer, according to a spokesman.

California-based venture capital firm Benchmark has closed its eighth fund with a total of USD425 million, according to a US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing.

Private equity group Southern Capital Partners offered to buy Malaysian tertiary education provider HELP International Corp Bhd for USD111.3 million (MYR359.3 million) and plans to delist the firm should the deal be successful.

The shares of Australia-based electronics seller Dick Smith Holdings Ltd lifted on its debut on Wednesday after securing USD315 million in its initial public offering.

Houston-based energy firm Calpine Corp said it agreed to buy the 1,050-megawatt Guadalupe Power Plant near San Antonio for USD625 million from MinnTex Power Holdings LLC.