VENTURE CAPITAL POST

Geneva-based Vitol Group is thinking of making a bid for some of Royal Dutch Shell's downstream operations in Australia, according to sources interviewed by Bloomberg.

Sandvik, a high-technology engineering firm based in Sweden, has agreed to buy Texas-based Varel International Energy Services for a price tag of about $740 million.

Oracle said it had agreed to purchase Corente, a New Jersey-based cloud-services firm, pushing the technology giant further into the Internet age, The New York Times The Dealbook reported.

Santa Clara, California-based Palo Alto Networks has acquired Morta Security, a Silicon Valley-based cyber security firm that has been in stealth mode since last year, for an undisclosed amount.

Sources knowledgeable about matter told TechCrunch that Microsoft has bought customer service SaaS provider Parature for $100 million in order boost the knowledge base of its CRM platform.

45 year-old recycling magnate Chen Guangbiao, whose charity works and publicity stunts are more known rather than his business sense, has claimed that he will be extending an offer to acquire the New York Times Co for $1 billion.

In an announcement made today, Groupon said it has completed its $260 million acquisition of LivingSocial Korea, which is the holding company of Korean ticket and e-commerce company Ticket Monster.

Square 1 Bank completed the acquisition of Silicon Valley-based Sand Hill Finance, a financing solutions provider for emerging growth firms. Financial terms about the transaction were not disclosed.

Russian oil producer Rosneft said on Friday that it does not have any plans to make strategic acquisitions after agreeing to acquire Morgan Stanley's oil trading unit last week.

Shenzhen Hepalink Pharmaceutical, a Chinese drug maker that trades on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange, will be purchasing Wisconsin-based Scientific Protein Laboratories in a deal worth $337.5 million, the Wisconsin State Journal reported.

Gogolook chief executive officer Jeff Kuo confirmed to TechCrunch about the company's merger with Korean Internet company and LINE app owner Naver, which was worth TW$529 million or $17.6 million, according to a state report.

Lond-based private equity firm CapVest has bought Scandza, a Nordic consumer food and beverage firm for an undisclosed amount. Jan Bodd and Stig Sunde, who founded Scandza in 2007 will still lead the company.

Taminco Corp, the world's largest alkylamines and alkylamine derivatives producer, said it had agreed to acquire the formic acid business of Finland-based chemicals firm Kemira.

ARA Asset Management Ltd, an Asian real estate fund management firm, said it had agreed to buy Macquarie Real Estate Korea Ltd, the Korean unit of Macquarie Group Ltd.

Oracle has agreed to purchase Responsys for $1.5 billion but not including debt or a 38% premium on the the company's closing price on Thursday, December 20, The New York Times The Dealbook reported.