VENTURE CAPITAL POST

Google will provide seed funding in Asia's renewable energy that will start off in Taiwan. Through the Center for Resource Solutions, the funds will be used to set up renewable energy certification programs.

Sharp Corp board has gathered today to weigh the bidding offers. The competition is between the Taiwanese electronics giant, Foxconn and the Japanese government-backed establishment, Innovation Network Corporation of Japan. While ICNJ has always been the favoured choice, Foxconn is giving it a stiff competition by way of doubling the offered price along with debt pay-offs and retention of management and employees.

Foxconn has put forth a highly tempting offer of over $5 billion in front of the almost-bankrupt Sharp Corp, which well exceeds its current valuation at $1.8 billion. The other potential buyer, Innovation Network Corp. of Japan, who was already very confident, is not so sure of a win right now. Foxconn's bid amount not only surpasses Innovation's $2.5 billion, the Taiwanese firm has also offered to absorb all of Sharp's debts and not make any top management replacements. While the board does not want their Japanese seller to fall under any kind of foreign control, the decision needs to be based purely on deal economics and not political considerations.

Qualcomm Inc. altered its proxy process requiring shareholders to have their stake in the company for at least three years before nominating people for the board.

Facebook plans to build its first Asian data center in Changhua County, Taiwan. The company plans to invest $300 million for the data center that will sit on 20 hectares of land.

Though usually considered only when convenient for consumers in the US, the 7-Eleven franchise in Asia has become a different company, selling varieties of snacks and services to its varied customers across Asia.

While Korea is hurting from a long drop in exports, one industry is booming in shipments and posts double-digit growth. This draws the attention of policymakers seeking for a new way to grow its export.

Amazon Twitch.tv should get ready to face its upcoming tough competitor - China's Panda TV. Panda TV is an e-sports streaming service that will go in a direct competition with Amazon Twitch.tv as revealed this week.

Foxconn, the electronics company headquartered in Taiwan, has pulled out $1B investment to Indonesia, rumors have it. But according to a report, Foxconn claims they haven't cancelled it yet.

Apple's stock rose sharply Monday after chief executive Tim Cook sent a rare e-mail to a news commentator, saying sales in China had been strong.

General Electric Co (GE.N) has won a five-year contract valued at up to $2 billion to supply helicopter engines to the government of Taiwan and support a number of U.S. military services, the Defense Department said on Friday.

Japan and Taiwan have imposed trade restrictions on poultry and poultry products from Ontario, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency said on Tuesday, a day after bird flu was confirmed in the Canadian province.

Japan remains cautious about signing up to the China-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), indicating that Tokyo will miss the March 31 deadline for application, but both Taiwan and Norway said they would seek to join the institution.

South Korea hopes its infrastructure companies will benefit from the country joining the China-backed Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), the finance ministry said on Friday.

China has imposed temporary trade restrictions on Canadian beef and beef products in the wake of Canada's discovery of mad cow disease earlier this month, Canada said on Friday.