VENTURE CAPITAL POST

The role of private equity firms in Sweden are now under close scrutiny as the country rethinks its pioneering educational reforms that are emulated worldwide, a Reuters Insight report said.

India's Foreign Investment Promotion Board has given the green light to Hennes & Mauritz's (H&M) INR7.2 billion (USD115 million) investment. The Swedish retail-clothing company looks to open 50 stores in India.

Stockholm-based private equity firm Cevian Capital on Monday announced its acquisition of 25 million A-shares in truck manufacturer Volvo. The purchase brought Cevian's ownership to 68.7 million A-shares and 29.8 million B-shares.

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.

According to Speedtest.net, 30 countries including Moldova and Uruguay have faster Internet than the United States. Google Inc. has began building its fiber network in Kansas. A nationwide Google Fiber rollout, however, may cost USD1 billion.

Japan's Fast Retailing Co. is planning a secondary public offering in the Hong Kong Stock Exchange next year. If successful, the Tokyo-listed retail holding company would become the third Japanese company to list in Hong Kong.

Norway's Aker Solutions ASA on Friday announced that it will divest its well intervention business to Swedish private equity firm EQT Partners. The transaction is worth USD654.31 million, including debt.

Siem Industries and Topcon Corporation raised the bid for Norwegian satellite positioning system firm Veripos. Siem and Topcon offered NOK30 in cash for each Veripos share.

Sweden's Finance Minister Anders Borg advised banks of a future of stricter administrative rules over their operations.

The number of initial public offering in Sweden had increased while Stockholm's OMX All-Share Index had reached a record high, erasing market volatility in the country.

A Gotland District Court Judge ruled to convict an 18 year old male for sending a friend request in social networking site Facebook.

A US$120 million fund was put up by Swedish firm Brummer and Partners and 20 other investors.

The Swedish government declared a deficit in June.

Swedish big banks' capital strength are more vulnerable to risk than what appears on paper.

Sweden sells off the remaining shareholdings in Nordea Bank.