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.
Investors
China Startup: Venture Firm Qiming Received $648 Million in Venture Capital Fund from Princeton University and Duke University
One of China’s biggest venture capital firm, Qiming, secured its fifth US dollar venture capital fund in total of $648 million. The fund will help expand the firm’s investments in Chinese top startups in various sectors such as internet, consumer, technology, healthcare, as well as cleantech.
India Startup: Zomato Becomes India's First E-Commerce to Break Even
The company announced that it had broken even in India and six other foreign countries, making the Indian e-commerce the first to achieve that milestone. Zomato, valued at over $1 billion, is going to start another funding round before becoming profitable by mid-2016.
Statoil's dividend irks major wealth fund
The Norwegian government is reeling under pressure owing to oil price drop. The lower oil price is eroding revenues for the government. The Norwegian government is counting on state's dividends from Statoil ASA.
Silver Lake invest $500 million in Symantec
Private equity firm Silver Lake will invest $500 million in cyber security company, Symantec. The money from the investment will be used by the company to buy back shares and issue a $4 dividend to shareholders.
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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.
Reorient Group Ltd. has reportedly formed a $3 billion yuan ($457 million) joint venture with partners. The Shanghai based proposed Joint Venture (JV) firm, Yunfeng Securities Co., will have a registered capital of 1 billion yuan. The JV entity will go operative subject to receipt of approval from China Securities Regulatory Commission.
The east African nation Ethiopia is poised to grow at 8.1 percent in 2016 from 8.7 percent growth in 2015. This makes Ethiopia a fastest growing nation in the world. The government spending on infrastructure projects is mainly driving the economy growth.
BEHL is going to purchase the leading German waste to energy recycler EEW for €1.44 Billion. The deal appears to be the largest ever Chinese direct investment in Germany. Following legal obligation, the transaction will be cleared under the German Foreign Trade and Payments Ordinance.
The UK house prices rose for the consecutive second month in January 2016. The UK property market demand is growing in the wake of lower interest rates and encouraging job growth rate. The average cost of a house in the UK was up 1.7 percent in January.
Investors are concerned as the US stock index futures turned weaker. The marginal recovery in oil price amid drop in the US dollar puts the Wall Street on cautious note. On the other hand, Asian and European stocks were trading marginally higher on oil price recovery and drop in US dollar.
The Dutch banking major ING Groep's revenues for the fourth quarter were above the analysts' forecasts. ING's exposure to the oil companies is putting pressure on its stock, which suffered 20 percent drop. However, ING is also receiving indirect benefits from lower oil prices.
Takata Corp, a manufacturer of airbags used in vehicles for consumer safety, will announce its restructuring plan to automakers in May. The restructuring plan is expected to include the sharing of recall costs. The defective airbags are forcing automobile majors to recall millions of cars.
