Ashland, a chemical manufacturer, is in talks with at least seven private equity firms that are all interested in purchasing its water technologies unit in a deal that could fetch upwards of USD 1.5 billion.

Buffer, a social sharing app announced that it has learned its lesson after last month's hack that enabled attackers to post on its users Facebook and Twitter accounts. It now has implemented a two-step login and authentification in place to ensure that the incident would not happen again.

3 U.S Senators published an op-ed in the New York Times today, questioning on why American citizens were not able to have the knowledge to challenge the infringement of their privacy rights.

Extreme Reality, an Israel-based startup which provides analysis of 3D motion was able to secure USD 10 million in its Series D funding round. The secured funds will be used to expand to additional markets and further develop their system.

In its efforts to restructure the company, Bank of Cyprus hired former deputy chief executive Euan Hamilton from the Royal Bank of Scotland as a consultant. Bank of Cyprus's efforts to turn the state of the company around has been hindered by political infighting as well as heavy criticism over its lack of transparency.

ZTE is currently devoting its resources to developing a new smartwatch that would be released to the Chinese market in the first quarter of next year. The device would be almost the same as the Samsung Galaxy Gear, but would be cheaper and could only connect to other ZTE mobile devices.

The New York Times cited reports that have suggested that Level 3 Communications, which controls most of the fiber optic cables that connect everyone to the Internet, may have greenlighted the NSA to tap data from Yahoo and Google. Both companies have announced that they will now start encrypting their data.

Billionaire and Friendster Inc. owner Vincent Tan is reportedly looking to list his online payments company MOL Global Pte., and has been eyeing a dual listing in the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange and either in Hong Kong or Singapore.

Australia-based task outsourcing platform Airtasker raised an additional USD2 million in a funding round with BridgeLane Capital, Exto Partners, and other private equity investors, to be used for the firm's team expansion.

Philippine-based JG Summit Holdings Inc raised PHP8.8 billion through an overnight equity placement to fund a stake acquisition in Manila Electric Company (Meralco) and other corporate purposes.

Singapore-based mobile social network for voice Bubbly is in talks with interested partners, including one gaming company, over a possible acquisition, according to the firm's chief executive officer.

Technology-focused private equity firm Silver Lake Management LLC will raise a USD1 billion fund to be invested in mid-sized companies. The firm's Silver Lake Sumeru LP unit will run the new fund.

Australia-based industrial glove maker Ansell Ltd agreed to purchase US-based hand protection product manufacturer BarrierSafe Solutions International for approximately USD615 million in a transaction subject to US antitrust clearance.

US-based private equity firm Carlyle Group LP announced its plan to acquire Canada-based investor in hedge funds Diversified Global Asset Management Corp for USD33 million.

Connecticut-based private equity firm Littlejohn & Co. was said to be buying e-commerce company Newgistics Inc. The deal will be financed by Littlejohn's Fund IV, which has a capital commitment of USD1.3 billion.

US-based generic drug manufacturer Mylan and two Indian pharmaceutical firms are in talks to buy Chennai-based Bafna Pharmaceuticals for an undisclosed amount, according to two sources familiar with the transaction.

Ramot Tel Aviv University Ltd secured USD17 million in funding for its Technology Innovation Momentum Fund, which will invest in breakthrough technologies in various industries.

A US district court has rejected Citigroup Inc.'s injunction barring Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) from seeking a secondary arbitration over its USD7.5 billion investment in the then-beleaguered bank.

Mexican broadcaster TV Azteca purchased financially troubled soccer club Atlas on Monday in an acquisition deal valued at USD50 million, according to the club's president.

Boulder, Colorado-based tech startup Revolv raised USD4 million in a funding round led by The Foundry Group to add support for more devices and hire more employees.

French investment firm Wendel and Nordic Capital are the remaining bidders for Germany's medical patch maker LTS Lohmann. The acquisition deal could bring in EUR1.2 billion to the company owned by Novartis, BWK and German tycoon Dietmar Hopp.

In its first acquisition, US-based journalism startup Byliner purchased mobile developer Seesaw Decisions for an undisclosed amount, but has not yet confirmed its plan for Seesaw.

Singapore's DBS Group Holdings, Credit Suisse, and ABN AMRO are among the shortlisted suitors that have placed their final round bids for Societe Generale's Asian private bank.

The Indian Angel Network, the country's oldest and largest angel investor network, is hunting for investment opportunities in the UK and Singapore. IAN expects to announce its first UK deal during the first half of 2014, while it will begin its Singapore operations in the latter half of next year.

Chinese billionaire Yuzhu Shi and a Baring Private Equity Asia affiliate sought to take Giant Interactive Group Inc. private for USD11.75 per American Depositary Share (ADS). The consortium values the Chinese online game developer at USD2.82 billion.

American private equity firm Bain Capital was said to be in talks with other private equity firms to sell its insurance software business Applied Systems Inc. Sources said that the sale could bring in USD1 billion to the investment firm.

California-based private messaging app Wickr had redesigned and is in the middle of a USD7.4 million fundraising, according to a document filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) today.

German-based pharmaceutical giant Bayer is preparing an acquisition bid amounting to NOK306 (USD49.9) per share for its Norwegian partner Algeta, according to a German newspaper.

Bain Capital has began raising USD3.5 billion for its fourth European private equity fund. The American private equity firm also offered its investors two fee structure to choose from.

Investment firms Carlyle Group, Blackstone Group, Apollo Global Management, Bain Capital, Ares Management and a consortium of Onex Corp and Canada Pension Plan Investment Board are reportedly bidding for Illinois Tool Works' industrial packaging unit in a deal that could bring in USD3 billion.