Chicago-based start-up lender Avant Inc has mobilized $325millions in its latest round of funding from a private equity (PE) firm General Atlantic and JPMorgan Chase & Co. Balyasny Asset Management and Tiger Global Management LLC are also investing in the round taking total fund-raising for Avant to $659mn till date. General Atlantic-led round is expected to close in October. With this fund-raising, the valuation of Avant is pegged at $1billion. The start-up firm is planning to use the mobilized funds to offer various financial products and fund its global expansion plan.
North America
Evernote cuts down 47 jobs, closes three global offices
Evernote Corporation had layoff 47 of its workers and closes three of its global offices. Reports confirmed affected locations were in Moscow, Singapore and Taiwan. Evernote CEO Chris O'Neill wrote in the company blog on Tuesday that Evernote had reduced 47 jobs. The company shuts down operation in three offices as well. "Today we let go of 47 people from the Evernote team and announced the closure of three of our global offices. We are grateful for the immense contributions of each and every affected person."
Ford's 2017 Super Duty trucks lighter but stronger and more modern
The 2017 Ford Super Duty model has a series of full-size trucks that will change all that seems to be the flaws of the previous trucks including air bags and colored touchscreens.
Founder and CEO Ralph Lauren steps down; appoints Stefan Larsson as successor
Founder Ralph Lauren quit the position as the CEO of the Ralph Lauren Corporation. He will be replaced by Stefan Larsson in November. After five decades, the fashion industry veteran, Ralph Lauren steps down as the company's CEO. Mr. Lauren appoints Stefan Larsson to take over the position. All the same, the legendary designer will still lead Ralph Lauren Corporation as an executive chairman and chief creative officer, the Wall Street Journal reported.
Yahoo to spin off Alibaba stake even without tax-free guarantee
Yahoo Inc. is proceeding with the spinoff of its stake in Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba even without guarantee that it won't be taxed. In a regulatory filing, Yahoo says its board has authorized the transaction despite lacking an approval from the Internal Revenue Service. On news of the decision, Yahoo's shares rose Monday by as much as 4% in extended trading.
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As part of its debt reduction exercise, the world's largest bullion producer Barrick Gold Corp has offered to buy back some part of its outstanding debt. Despite the drop in gold prices, The Toronto-based Barrick Gold Corp has been selling assets.
Comcast Corp. is getting a 51% stake in Universal Studios Japan Co. The US cable company has announced its NBCUniversal unit will pay Goldman Sachs and other owners of USJ Co. $1.5 billion for the majority stake.
Amazon just unveiled their latest gadget, the Amazon Fire HD 10. It is the widest tablet offered by Jeff Bezos's company and it comes with a price tag far cheaper than any other high-end tablet by another manufacturer at $229.
Shrugging from the recent market crash, Nike and Under Armour stocks have emerged as major gainers on the Wall Street. Though these two companies are battle to capture higher market share in sportswear and star endorsements, but the athletic apparel makers are racing ahead in improving their financial performance.
As part of its new strategy, Microsoft Corporation will announce quarterly results under the three new headers based on operating a segment-wise business. The global software major has devised a rearranging system for financial results by restructuring business into three operating segments.
NASA is gearing up the Orion heat shield for its first space mission, the EM-1, in 2018. The new heat shield must survive extreme temperatures upon its travel to space.
The Dallas-based Energy Transfer Equity LP has decided to buy Williams Cos in a $32.6-billion deal. The acquisition will pave the way for developing a huge 100,000 miles network of natural gas pipelines in the US.
The Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), the Doha-based sovereign wealth fund of the world's richest nation by per capita income manages over $300 billion, has opened its office in New York and earmarked $35-billion investment over next five years in the US business opportunity.
The slump business in the mining industry had led Caterpillar to reduce its revenue expectation for this year. The latest revenue projection is $48 billion which is 25 percent lower compared to the last 4 years. The reduction means not only the company will suffer, but its heavy machinery parts supplier is feeling the effects too.
