VENTURE CAPITAL POST

US-based professional technical services provider Jacobs Engineering Group Inc announced the completion of its merger with Australia-based firm Sinclair Knight Merz in a deal valued at AU$1.3 billion.

UK-based lender Lloyds Banking Group PLC is offloading its remaining 21% stake in the investment firm St. James's Place for GBP95 million after progressively selling its stake down.

St. Martins Group, Kuwait's property investment vehicle in the UK, has paid around GBP1.7 billion to purchase the More London complex which includes Mayor Boris Johnson's headquarters.

Venn Life Sciences has purchased Belfast, Ireland-based clinical research organization Medevol Limited in a deal valued at USD0.67 million, to strengthen Venn's operations in the UK.

Hong Kong-based private equity firm Gaw Capital Partners is set to purchase minority stakes in four commercial property acquisitions in the UK and the US, in a deal with a total value of USD1 billion.

UK-based investor Utilico Investments has reduced its stake in New Zealand-based energy business operator Infratil through the company's buyback program and a share sale on the market.

UK-based mobile game maker King has delayed its initial public offering (IPO) until 2014 amid fears that its flagship game, Candy Crush Saga, is just a "one hit wonder," said UK-based newspaper.

The Belfast Telegraph said in a report that Ministry of Defence Secretary Philip Hammond will be left working out other options after plans for purchasing military equipment via a private consortium had failed.

2013 Nobel Prize winner and University of Chicago Professor Eugene Fama told Reuters that the world's economy is in danger of a potential global recession next year due to the high debts incurred by governments in the US and Europe.

According to the UK-based "Global State of Enterprise Mobility for the Past, Present and Future" report, mobile apps could be the most invested-in startups in 2014.

UK asset manager Threadneedle Investments has increased its stake in AZ Electronic Materials to above 11% in a move that could block the GBP1.56 billion takeover bid from German drugmaker Merck.

European private equity company Bridgepoint has agreed to acquire pre-university training firm Cambridge Education Group (CEG) from London-based investor Palamon Capital Partners for GBP185 million.

Venture capital trust Time:Reboot VCT plans to raise around GBP20 million by the end of April 2014 to invest exclusively in firms run by UK military veterans.

Denmark-based pension fund PensionDanmark is set to invest GBP153 million in six onshore wind farms of Falck Renewables, in a deal that will give the Danish firm a 49% stake in the energy sites in Wales and Scotland.

A new GBP10 billion privatization program will see Britain's 40% stake in cross-channel rail operator Eurostar sold off to help pay down UK's debts.