Cloud application marketplace and management platform AppDirect acquires peer Standing Cloud and raises $9m series B funding, led by iNovia and including Stingray Digital Group.

Japan-based Rakuten, an electronic commerce, internet services and digital media content company, is on an ambitious path to one day go neck and neck with Amazon and Lovefilm subsidiary, Netflix. Its recent acquisition of Singapore-based Viki.com, a crowd-sourcing multi-lingual video streaming company, is likely to give it the global edge it needs to build scale. The Japanese company is reportedly set to pay close to $200m for Viki, according to media sources.

Samsung and its display manufacturer subsidiary Cheil Industries acquire OLED manufacturer Novaled.

Samsung and subsidiary Cheil Industries acquire Dresden spin-out Novaled.

Merck Global Health Innovation Fund acquires controlling interest in investee company Physicians Interactive.

Samsung looks to acquire LED manufacturer Novaled for over $200m.

Life science firm Illumina acquires Duke spin-out Advanced Liquid Logic, a provider of liquid handling solutions, for $94m.

Monsanto acquires Duke University spin-out GrassRoots Biotechnology for undisclosed amount.

Tsinghua University offers $1.3bn in a takeover bid of smartphone chipset manufacturer Spreadtrum.