VENTURE CAPITAL POST

San Francisco, California-based online car booking service Uber planned to venture into the Asia Pacific market and start hiring staff members across 14 cities, according to an Uber representative.

Limerick, Ireland-based environmental software developer AMCS Group closed €23.5 million in a funding round led by Highland Capital Partners Europe (HCPE) for its expansion into Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and the Americas.

Perth, Australia-based gold mining and mineral exploration firm Saracen Mineral Holdings acquired Western Australia's unloved Thunderbox gold mine from Russian giant Norilsk in a deal valued at $20 million.

Australia-based mining firm Heemskirk Consolidated inked a deal with Marquis Alliance Energy Group to sell its mineral plant in Canada for C$12 million as part of its startegy to focus on developing its Moberly facility.

Singapore-Malay asset manager and property investor Aquaint Capital is looking to raise fresh capital to acquire distressed property assets across Australia, according to sources familiar with the matter.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE)-based oil and gas firm Dragon Oil Plc inked a deal to acquire the 40% stake of Australia-based firm Nido Petroleum Ltd in Service Contract (SC) 63, a petroleum block in Palawan, Philippines.

Australia-based real estate manager GPT Group will not increase its takeover bid for Commonwealth Property Office Fund (CPA), making way for Dexus Property and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) to make competing offers.

China-based food and beverage manufacturer Bright Food (Group) Co Ltd agreed to buy Australia-based dairy firm Mundella Foods through its Australian subsidiary, Manassen Foods, for an undisclosed amount.

Melbourne, Australia-based real estate classified service REA Group Ltd bought rental application service 1Form Online Pty Ltd in a deal valued at $15 million as part of its strategy to link its customers with property-related services.

Australia-based mining firm Rio Tinto Ltd purchased C$1.29 billion (A$1.32 billion) worth of shares in Canada-based mining company Turquoise Hill Resources out of contractual obligations but maintained its present stake.

Chennai, India-based billing startup ChargeBee raised around $800,000 in a Series A funding round from Accel Partners, bringing its total raised capital to $1.17 million.

Philippine-based tollway developer Metro Pacific Tollways Development Corporation (MPTDC) acquired France-based tollway operator Egis Project SA stake in Manila North Tollways Corporation (MNTC) for PHP1.42 billion.

Canada-based suitor Saputo Inc has lifted its stake in Australia-based dairy supplier Warrnambool Cheese and Butter Factory Ltd for the third time after United Dairy Power backed Saputo's takeover bid.

Massachusetts, US-based video hosting solutions firm Brightcove acquired Arizona-based Internet video solutions provider Unicorn Media Inc in $49-million acquisition deal to facilitate easier distribution of ad-supported video.

A report from the Australian Financial Review said Telstra Corp, the largest phone company in Australia, is already in the advanced stages of talks with a private equity firm to sell Sensis in a deal worth $2.7 billion, Reuters reported.