OFFSHORE INVESTMENT FIRM UPS FRANCE FUND STAKE VBI Corp, an offshore-based investment firm, told the Securities and Exchange Commission it raised its stake in the France Fund Inc <FRN> to 681,800 shares, or 9.1 pct of the total, from 551,000, or 7.4 pct. VBI, which is based in Turks and Caicos Islands, the British West Indies, said it bought the additional shares between Feb 24 and March 4. It has said it bought its France Fund stake for investment purposes only.