Global Venturing

Vanguard International Semiconductor, a smaller affiliate of TSMC, is considering building a second chipmaking plant in Singapore through its joint venture to meet growing demand for chips. The move would expand Singapore's role in global semiconductor supply at a time when manufacturers are investing heavily in new capacity worldwide.

New York City has subpoenaed Elon Musk and his artificial intelligence company xAI as part of an investigation into AI safety. The move makes the city one of the most prominent US local governments to target a major AI developer directly, and it adds regulatory pressure for Musk, whose AI business is already drawing scrutiny alongside his other ventures.

Autonomous driving software firm Momenta and Stellantis' Chinese joint venture with Dongfeng have agreed to co-develop intelligent driving technology. The partnership will focus on bringing advanced driver assistance systems to vehicles sold in China, one of the world's largest but most competitive auto markets. The move underscores how global automakers are pairing with local tech suppliers to stay relevant against fast-moving Chinese competitors.

A chip fabrication plant run as a joint venture between Vanguard International Semiconductor (VIS) and NXP Semiconductors has entered its initial production stage. The facility marks a key milestone for the partnership, which focuses on expanding chip manufacturing capacity, and is being followed closely by industry watchers tracking global semiconductor supply.

Chinese autonomous driving software firm Momenta has announced a partnership with Dongfeng Stellantis Automotive Technology to deploy its driving-assistance technology in upcoming Peugeot and Jeep models. The deal marks another step in Momenta's expansion among joint-venture automakers in China, as global brands move to add locally developed smart-driving features to stay competitive with domestic manufacturers.

The UK Competition and Markets Authority has raised concerns that Nexfibre's proposed £2 billion acquisition of rival fibre network operator Netomnia could lessen competition in the broadband market. The deal, involving the fibre venture backed by Liberty Global and Telefónica, is now set to face regulatory scrutiny over its impact on Britain's growing altnet sector.

Global Venturing examines Honda's corporate venture capital strategy, arguing that the real strategic value of a corporate investment emerges only after the deal closes. The piece suggests corporate investors like Honda need active post-investment engagement with portfolio startups to capture operational and strategic benefits, rather than treating the investment itself as the end goal.

Thomson Reuters and private equity firm KKR have completed a joint venture covering Thomson Reuters' global print business. The deal finalizes the transfer of the print operations into a partnership structure, marking a further step in the company's shift away from print publishing toward digital, data-driven services. Further details of the arrangement have not been widely reported.

John Herman, co-founder and CEO of non-alcoholic beer brand Bero, told trade publication Global Drinks Intel that a brand built on a celebrity tie-in lacking credibility, soul or quality is destined to fail. It is the first part of an interview discussing how celebrity-backed drinks ventures can succeed, with Herman arguing that substance and product quality must come before famous names.