Venture capital (VC) funding activity seems to be heading towards pre-recessionary mark. The VC activity recorded robust growth phase for over seven years. The sluggish financial markets are discouraging VC funding and raising money.
Industry
Foreign Franchise: IKEA Lost Its Trademark in Indonesia After a Dispute With Local Furniture Company
The case was brought to Central Jakarta District Court in 2014, and the decision was ruled by the court last year. The plaintiff made the case by presenting the Indonesian trademark law which stated that a trademark could be deleted if the company had not used the name for commercial purposes in three years after registration or after the last use.
Wiper, alternative messaging app for costly movies
Messaging app Wiper has raised a total of $4.5 million seed funding from its investor Michael Choupak adding $2 million dollars. The service launced $4.99 monthly subscription fee to preview and watch thousands of original short and long, inexpensive indie films that can be compared to expensive Hollywood movies.
VW, Audi recall Tiguan and Q5 over Takata inflators
The failure of Takata's airbag inflators are keeping pressure on several automobile giants. Volkswagen and Audi will recall Tiguan and Q5 model vehicles for defective airbags made by Takata. Dealers of automobile companies will replace the defective side airbags of Takata at free of charge.
Verizon CEO showed interest in Yahoo acquisition
It was confirmed by Verizon CEO Lowell McAdam that Verizon is interested in acquiring Yahoo. The Internet search company had difficult times in the past years as many other companies had their market share in the online and mobile business. This promts Yahoo to reconstruct its business including cutting jobs.
Latest News
Mexico is receiving $400-loan from World Bank for rural development and will formally sign an agreement. Mexican government will utilize the funds for extending financial lending to farmers and fishermen in rural areas. The small and medium enterprises (SMEs) will also get financial support from the Mexico's national agricultural financing agency FND.
The Los Angeles-based fashion retailer Nasty Gal is reducing the number of employees by 10 percent as part of its strategic restructuring. The increasing market competition and uncertainty in financing aspects are forcing the company to reduce the costs. Several former employees moved court against Nasty Gal against layoffs.
Honda said it recalled a total of 442,997 vehicles in Japan. The automaker will also recall 2.2 million cars in the US.
Gary Le Sueur, an expert venture capitalist, has been appointed as director of Inspiring Scotland’s board. Gary's experience coupled with his desire to utilize venture capital-skill for social cause will enable the company to boost its ability to deliver the highest return on investment.
Terming the daily fantasy sports as illegal gambling, the New York Attorney General has filed a lawsuit against DraftKings and FanDuel. While the lawsuit proceeds in its own pace, banking giant Citigroup has imposed a ban on transactions to the DFS sites by the New Yorkers. Some US states express reluctance while some declare the sites as legal.
Reliance Infrastructure Ltd has sold Reliance Cement Company Pvt. Ltd to Birla Corporation for Rs. 4,800 crore. Anil Ambani's Reliance has made this decision to cut down the debts the company has accumulated over the years that range between Rs 20,000 and 25,000 crore.
Weatherford International Plc lays-off 6,000 workers due to plunging oil prices. The company believes diminishing supply would influence the oil prices for good.
Lions Gate Entertainment Corp. continues the discussion with Starz regarding the possibilities of the two companies to merge. The talk had been started three years ago, and now it is looking for a further agreement.
Last December, German factory orders dropped worse than what experts had forecasted. There was a weaker growth in the local demand, and the overseas market was not so much helping eventhough there was a slightly slow increase.
