Market Chatter -- Corporate finance press digest

LONDON, May 7 (Reuters) - The following corporate finance-related stories involving U.S. and European companies were reported by media on Wednesday:

* A senior private banker at UBS (UBSN.VX: Quote, Profile, Research) has been detained by U.S. authorities investigating whether the Swiss bank helped American clients evade tax, the Financial Times reported.

Martin Liechti, the Zurich-based head of North and South America for UBS's international wealth management business was detained, the paper said.

UBS said in a statement: "A senior UBS employee was briefly detained by U.S. authorities under a 'material witness' warrant in connection with the U.S. Department of Justice's investigation into UBS's cross-border business involving U.S. private banking clients."

It said it understood the employee has not been charged with any wrongdoing and "will remain in the United States pending discussions with the U.S. authoritied regarding resolution of his statement as a witness."

The bank declined to name the employee.

* Michael Spencer, founder of inter-dealer broker ICAP (IAP.L: Quote, Profile, Research), is investing $125 million into a new hedge fund to profit from markets in Africa and the Middle East, the Financial Times said.