London-based global advertising firm DraftFCB has acquired independent creative agency Inferno in a takeover transaction that could give the agency a market valuation of £20 million.

American software giant Oracle said today that it will acquire email marketing firm Responsys in a deal valued at $1.5 billion, to combine it with recent acquisition Eloqua.

Info Edge(India) Ltd, a company that runs several consumer Internet portals, has infused more than $700,000 into Bangalore, India-based online photography startup Canvera Digital Technologies Pvt Ltd.

New York-based online eyeglasses company Warby Parker has scored $60 million in a Series C funding round from its existing investors to beef up its customer support team.

New York, US-based media group News Corp has acquired Dublin, Ireland's social news agency Storyful in a deal valued at €18 million ($25 million) to help surface and validate user-generated news online.

Washington-based international law and lobby powerhouse Patton Boggs LLP has ended merger discussions with Texas-based law company Locke Lord LLP, according to a joint statement on December 19.

Shanghai-based investment fund China Media Capital (CMC) purchased a stake in Beijing-based business media entity Caixin Media Company Ltd from Zhebao Media Holding Group Co Ltd for an undisclosed amount.

International Finance Corporation, the private sector financing arm of the World Bank Group, has proposed to provide a $15.75 million debt financing to NSL Renewable Power. NSL plans to build a 40-megawatt wind farm in Maharashtra, India.

The Max's Group of Companies has bought Philippine-based casual dining chain operator Pancake House Inc prior to the former's local stock market debut, in a deal valued at almost PHP3.9 billion.

The Japanese government will shoulder the decontamination costs from the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster through the sale of its shares in Tokyo Electric Power Co. Decontamination costs are estimated to reach ¥2.5 trillion.

Sprint chairman and SoftBank chief executive Masayoshi Son was reportedly meeting senior bank executives in New York. Sources said that banks are readying proposals for financing a bid by Sprint Corp. for T-Mobile US.

Veritas Investments, the owner of the Mad Butcher business in New Zealand, is poised to spend $3.4 million in combined cash and shares to acquire a stake in the local Burger King patty supplier Kiwi Pacific Foods.

Tokyo-based trading firm Mitsui sold its new shares in Indonesia-based motorcycle financier Bussan Auto Finance (BAF) to Ciptadana Capital and Yamaha Motor Group in a deal valued at IDR350 billion ($28.7 million).

BlackRock, the world's largest manager, is seeking to raise up to $3 billion for a new hedge fund to invest in credit globally. BlackRock Credit Alpha Fund was created in October with an initial target capital commitment of $500 million.

Software company Dealertrack Technologies will buy out online marketing and sales provider Dealer.com for $1 billion. Dealertrack will pay $620 million in cash and $373 million in stock.

Boston-based firm Liberty Mutual Insurance Group reportedly paid more than €100 million to acquire a 49% stake in Irish Bank Resolution Corporation (IRBC), amid plans to open 150 new technology jobs in Dublin, Ireland.

Private equity firm Blackstone Group has put up for sale its 13.09% stake in Indian drug company Emcure Pharmaceuticals. The stake will be sold to rival private equity firm Bain Capital for INR650 crore.

Australia-based funds management group Alceon has acquired two shopping centers from Mirvac Group in a deal valued at $100 million as part of the listed group's non-core disposal program.

New York-based innovative learning company EdTech has landed $51 million in a funding round led by London venture firm Atomico to take personalized learning on a global scale.

Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg will be selling 41.4 million shares worth $2.3 billion as part of Facebook's follow-on offering of 70 million shares. The said stock offering is worth a total of $3.9 billion.

New York-based mobile location-based social network Foursquare has just raised $35 million in a financing round for its new platform for real-time ads, according to the company's Chief Executive Officer.

Private equity firm Carlyle Group has acquired a minority stake of 28% in Indian super-specialty hospital chain Global Health for INR960 crore. Carlyle as of September this year had invested $1.1 billion in India.

Constar International Holdings, which lost its contract with PepsiCo last year, filed for its third bankruptcy since 2008. Constar filed for Chapter 11 protection as it hopes to nail down its sale to Amcor Rigid Plastics USA.

New York, US-based firm Floored Inc has raised $5.3 million in a Series A funding round led by RRE Ventures for its technology that allows real estate professionals to create a 3D model of properties.

Palo Alto, California-based Cyanogen has closed $23 million in Series B funding from Andreessen Horowitz and Tencent to expand its workforce and develop its CyanogenMod mobile operating system.

In a bid to expand its operations in China, The Hershey Company recently bought out Shanghai Golden Monkey Food Co, maker of over 200 varieties of candy, in a deal valued at $498 million.

Restaurant operator Darden Restaurants on Thursday announced that it intends to spin off or sell its Red Lobster chain, succumbing to pressure by activist investor Barington Capital Group. Barington owns over 2% stake in Darden.

Australia's treasurer Joe Hockey has given a conditional approval for State Grid Corporation of China's acquisition of stakes in Australian electricity and gas distribution assets.

KBC Bank, which received a €7 billion government bailout in 2008, will be selling the Antwerp Diamond Bank to Chinese investor Yiren Group. KBC has disposed a string of units since the Belgian government rescued it during the financial crisis.

Australia-based mobile device provider Telstra Corporation Ltd will sell CSL, its Hong Kong-based mobiles business to HKT Limited in a deal valued at $2.425 billion.