Oracle Corp’s (ORCL.O) acquisition of Sun Microsystems Inc. (JAVA.O) could be delayed by up to four months if the European Commission’s antitrust authority decide to launch an investigation into the $7.4bn deal. US authorities cleared the sale last week, but the EC is concerned over Oracle gaining ownership of the MySQL database product, sources familiar with the situation tell Reuters.

For this and the rest of the latest deals news from Reuters, click here.

And here’s a round-up of other deals news reported in the press on Wednesday:

* The Cosmen-CVC Capital Partners consortium bidding for bus and train operator National Express (NEX.L) is looking for ways to make its offer more attractive, the Financial Times said.

* The telecoms tower unit of Indian mobile operator Reliance Communications Ltd (RLCM.BO) has revived its initial public offer plan and is looking to raise up to 50 billion rupees ($1 billion), the Business Standard reported.

* Chinese industrial gas provider Yingde Gases plans to raise up to $300 million in an initial public offering in Hong Kong, competing with other listing hopefuls, a Hong Kong newspaper reported.

* Luxury sportscar maker Koenigsegg is close to securing the financing needed to carry out its purchase of Saab Automobile from General Motors, a Swedish business daily reported.

* Lloyds Banking Group (LLOY.L) has won backing from its investors to raise 10 billion pounds ($16.3 billion) to reduce its dependence on the taxpayer, The Guardian reported.