Discovery Communications has made a strategic investment in digital media holding company Group Nine, formed by NowThis, Thrillist, The Dodo and Seeker.

The two organisations have opened a consultation to collect feedback on whether they should form a combined entity.

DeNA exited online video monetisation platform FameBit in an acquisition by Google, which bought the company for an undisclosed amount.

Deutsche Telekom-backed 9Flats and Rocket Internet-backed Wimdu are set to merge and will form an online accommodation platform with an estimated 500,000 listings.

Continental is boosting its fleet management capabilities by buying an 81% share of Zonar, while Daimler will retain its stake following a $50m investment last year.

Time Warner Investments and IDG Ventures are set to exit marketing data management platform Krux in a cash and stock deal.

Imperial Innovations has exited ICL spinout Permasense following its acquisition by Emerson Electric for $39m in upfront cash and up to an additional $12.8m in milestone payments.

Spotify is in advanced talks to acquire SoundCloud, which was reported to be talking to Twitter about a sale until the social media company withdrew from negotiations in 2014.

AKM Systems-backed online education marketplace EduKart has been acqui-hired by One97 Communications, after raising $2m in VC funding since 2011.

Nokia's corporate venturing unit has exited cloud enterprise software company Intermedia, four years after investing in the company.