Internet Sales - GIMV
Flanders venture capital company GIMV has invested €4.9 million for a stake in the French online apparel sales firm Private Outlet. The move will strengthen the business activities in GIMV's main markets of France, Germany, Spain, Italy and the UK. Meanwhile, Spain's Zara clothing chain is launching online sales in Belgium in the first half of next year.

Rail - Antwerp
Antwerp station has been named Europe's most beautiful railway station by the Dutch travel website Stedentripper.com, beating London's St Pancras and Madrid's Atocha.

Steel - Bekaert
Bekaert, based in Zwevegem, West Flanders, has acquired the steel springs and conductive wiring activities of the Chinese Xinyu Iron and Steel company, located in Jiangxi province, for some €18 million. The move allows Bekaert to further develop its presence in China, where it is already the leader in steel-cord production for the tyre industry.

Supermarkets - Carrefour
The French Carrefour group is to invest up to €63 million to renovate 15 of its Belgian hypermarkets. The company, which operates 45 stores across Belgium, implemented a severe restructuring in the spring. Meanwhile, Colruyt, the country's leading low-cost supermarket, will merge its 45 property companies, which own much of the company's real estate assets.

Telecom - Belgacom
Belgacom, the country's largest telecommunications group, has signed a partnership agreement with the US OnLive video games streaming company. The deal involves the development of games available in Belgium via phones, computers and TVs.