Emera Inc. has invested (euro) 10.2 million (C$15 million) to acquire a 7.4% interest in OpenHydro Group Limited, an Irish renewable tidal energy company. OpenHydro designs and manufactures marine turbines for harnessing energy from tidal currents under the world's oceans - silently and invisibly generating electricity at no cost to the environment.

Maple Leaf Reforestation Inc. (TSX Venture - MPE) announced that, subject to TSX Venture Exchange approval, Maple Leaf has retained CHF Investor Relations (Cavalcanti Hume Funfer Inc.); Canada's longest established investor relations firm.

Lombard Investments, Inc. is pleased to announce an investment of US$18.9 million in Krungthep Land Public Company Limited, one of Thailand's leading, privately held, mid-sized residential home builders. The transaction closed on January 31, 2008. A representative from Lombard has joined the Company's board of directors.

London and New York – 12th February, 2008 – Financial Tradeware, provider of portfolio and fund management straight through processing (STP) solutions for investment managers, fund managers and hedge funds, today announced that it has successfully implemented its H-Fund product at European Investments Management Ltd (EIM) (BISX: EIF).

MBIA Inc., the largest bond insurer in the world, plans to sell about 50.3 million common shares to raise $750 million in a move to retain its AAA credit rating.

Pacific Crest Securities, the leading technology-focused investment banking firm, announced today that it has completed a $30 million growth investment from CIVC Partners, based in Chicago, and Caltius Partners, based in Los Angeles.

Ludvik Capital, Inc (Pink Sheets: LDVK) announced today that it has completed a letter of intent to invest in SecureAxxess www.secureaxxess.com .

Private investment in Afghanistan dropped significantly last year due to security concerns, and Australia's consumer watchdog is complaining about high gasoline prices set by international oil companies. Claudia Blume in Hong Kong has more on these and other stories in our weekly round up of business news from the Asia-Pacific region.

RBC Capital Markets today announced the launch of the RBC Emerging Manager Allocator platform, a proprietary pool of capital that is structured to invest in a diversified group of emerging manager hedge funds with a demonstrated ability in alternative investing.

Merrill Lynch & Co. will pay the city of Springfield $13.9 million to settle a dispute over investments that soured and became the focus of investigations by state regulators, the two sides said Thursday

The credit card network MasterCard Inc. reported that its fourth-quarter earnings rose more than seven times, due to additional sales of the company's investment in a Brazilian company.

Standard Chartered Plc said it may lend as much as $7.15 billion to its Whistlejacket Capital structured investment vehicle and take on the fund's assets.