German publishing group Axel Springer has bought up 15 percent of Oslo-based jobs site StepStone and plans to take its stake up to 33 percent. Springer’s prepared to pay up to 7 NOK (£0.67) per share - a nice premium on Tuesday’s 3.50 NOK (£0.33) close. Founded in 1996, StepStone floated on Oslo’s market at the apex of the dot.com boom in 2000 and promptly liquidated its UK operation a year later. It’s now entered the “human capital management” area, has offices around the world and claimed €98 million revenue in 2007. Springer already owned 49.9 percent of StepStone’s German operation. Release.

Meanwhile, Swedish online and magazine publisher Mediaprovider Scandinavia is selling its jobs portal Jobeasy to IDG’s Denmark division, which will merge it with its own Jobworld portal.  Mediaprovider said it was focusing now on its core business. No financial details disclosed. Release.

—Also in Germany, A&O group is buying BiggerFriends.com, a social network for overweight people. Apparently, the business model is to sell clothes and other items for XXL people. Via Deutsche Startups.