Exclusive: Qatar bolstering wealth fund team to diversify portfolio - sources

DUBAI – Qatar's sovereign wealth fund, one of the world's most aggressive investors, is hiring senior bankers and industry executives to lessen the fund's reliance on Europe and diversify its investment portfolio, sources familiar with the plan said.

Abu Dhabi sells Barclays bank stake: Statement

LONDON: An Abu Dhabi sheikh who helped British bank Barclays avoid a state bailout during the global financial crisis has sold his stake.

UK to rebuff private equity, overseas funds in Lloyds sale - sources

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain will start selling its shares in Lloyds Banking Group (LSE: LLOY.L - news) to pension funds and insurers later this year, rejecting interest from private equity and sovereign wealth funds, industry and political sources said.

Porsche family buys back stake from Qatar fund

BERLIN: Descendants of German automobile entrepreneur Ferdinand Porsche have bought back a 10 per cent stake in their holding company from Qatar's sovereign wealth fund.

Russia's VTB set to approve terms for $3.2 billion share sale

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia's second-largest bank VTB (VTBR.MM) was set to push ahead with a 100 billion rouble $3.2 billion (2 billion pounds) share sale in the coming weeks to bolster its capital, even as its shares languish after a series of strategic missteps.

Qatar runs returns rule over fast cars and football

DUBAI (Reuters) - Bankers and politicians touting their countries' wares have to work hard to get the attention of Qatar's sovereign wealth fund, such is the range of its interests, from banks to cars to soccer clubs, and its exacting requirement for returns.

Nation feeds Gulf's appetite for ownership

IT WAS December last year, and the newly-minted Australia Gulf Council was ushering its first business mission through the Arab Gulf states, seeking key relationships with the ruling families and hoping to land trade and investment deals.

High-powered political cachet came from the former Labor prime minister Bob Hawke - a director on the council - and the steward of Australia's economic success for a decade, the former Liberal treasurer, Peter Costello. Senior executives on board had interests in banking, property, engineering, professional services, fast food, agribusiness and commodities. But the interest dominating their hosts' attention was clear - food security.