LONDON (AFX) - 3i Group PLC, the UK private equity group, said it will return 800 mln stg to shareholders, reflecting strong returns from sales. The company said new investments for the first eleven months of 2006 to end-February rose to 1.598 bln stg, compared with 1.184 bln stg a year earlier.

NUREMBERG, Germany (AFX) - The number of jobless people in Germany in March fell a seasonally adjusted 65,000 to 3.832 mln from February, the Labour Office said. Economists polled by AFX News had forecast the drop to lie at around 50,000.

LONDON (AFX) - Lloyd's of London, the insurance and reinsurance market, said it swung to a 3.662 bln stg profit for the year to end-December from a loss of 103 mln stg in 2005, thanks to a benign hurricane season and high US property and catastrophe insurance prices. Combined ratio -- costs and claims expressed as a proportion of premium income -- was 83.1 pct, up from 111.8 pct in 2005. Any percentage below 100 pct denotes profitability.

LONDON (AFX) - British American Tobacco PLC, the world's second largest tobacco company, is thought to be in talks with CVC Capital, Cinven and PAI over a possible bid for Altadis SA, according to the Times. The move would spark a bidding war with Imperial Tobacco Group PLC, which could raise its 9.5 bln stg offer.

ZURICH (AFX) - Kuoni Reisen Holding AG is currently reviewing its corporate strategy with the help of KPMG advisors in the wake of last month's merger of TUI AG and First Choice Holidays, Swiss finance magazine Bilanz reported without disclosing its sources. Focus is in particular on the Swiss tour operator's volume business, distribution channels as well as the future of its Edelweiss airline, the magazine said.

BEIJING (XFN-ASIA) - Citigroup plans to double its outlets in China to over 30 by the end of the year, up from 16 now, in a market the bank regards as 'crucial' to its long-term growth, the company's chief executive Charles Prince said. He told reporters in Beijing, that Citigroup's strategy this year is to grow its international business more quickly than its operations in the US.

FRANKFURT (AFX) - Merck KGaA expects binding offers for its generics unit by the end of April, sources within the financial industry said. The German pharmaceutical company will then likely continue talks with two or three bidders, the sources told dpa-AFX news agency.

PARIS (AFX) - Air France-KLM is considering a plan to save 1.0-1.5 bln eur over three years and may announce the move at its full-year results presentation in May, weekly magazine Challenge reported. The magazine did not name it source or say how these savings would be made beyond citing improved productivity and a reduction in the number of leased aircraft.

LONDON (AFX) - Kingfisher PLC, Europe's largest home improvement retailer, has reported an expected 11 pct fall in full year underlying pretax profit but said trading has picked up in its new financial year. 'Ahead of the key Easter trading period, early 2007/08 trading has been stronger in our major markets, supported by better weather,' said chief executive Gerry Murphy.

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