January 19. 2022

• After PlayStation competitor, Microsoft Corp. announced a $69 billion deal to acquire games developer Activision Blizzard Inc., Sony Group Corp. shares plummeted 13% in Tokyo on Wednesday, the most since October 2008.
• The private equity firm Symphony Technology Group (STG), which bought McAfee Enterprise and FireEye in quick succession, plans to merge the two companies to form Trellix. The new firm will offer extended detection and response (XDR) services to businesses, emphasizing speeding technical innovation through machine learning and mechanization.
• The leading health technology company Smith+Nephew (LSE: SN, NYSE: SNN) declared the purchase of Engage Surgical, the owner of the only cementless unicompartmental (partial) knee system currently available in the United States.
• A cutting-edge medical technology business, Amber Implants recently announced the successful completion of its $10 million Series A financing round. The founders and existing venture capital investors co-led the round, including angel investors and non-dilutive government money.
• OpenSea, an NFT marketplace, invests part of its newly generated cash in crypto wallet startup Dharma Labs. The news comes after Axios reported earlier this month that OpenSea was discussing purchasing the business for $110 million to $130 million.
• Rocket Lab, an American aerospace business, has completed the purchase of SolAero Holdings, a manufacturer of space solar power systems and precision aerospace structures, for $80 million in cash. Rocket Lab’s long-term ambition is aided by the purchase, which allows the business to take a larger share of the space market.
• Opera, a Norwegian-based worldwide technology company that specializes in online browser development, finance, and services like Opera News and YoYo Games, has released the beta version of its new Crypto Browser Project. By giving direct access to Web3 services, this crypto browser aims to make surfing DApps, gaming, and metaverse platforms easier for Windows, Mac, and Android users.
• Animoca Brands, a worldwide developer that uses well-known brands, gamification, artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and mobile technology, has raised $358.8 million in a round-headed by Liberty City Ventures. Smile Group, Wildcat Capital Management, Soros Fund Management, Winklevoss Capital, C Ventures, 10T Holdings, Delta Fund, Gobi Partners Greater Bay Area, Kingsway, Gemini Frontier Fund, L2 Capital, Pacific Century Group, Mirae Asset, and Parafi Capital were among the other investors.
• Binance, a cryptocurrency exchange platform that mixes digital technology and finance, teamed up with Sarath Ratanavadi of Gulf Energy Development to look into the prospect of launching a cryptocurrency trading platform in the Southeast Asian country.
• The top bids for two highly contested residential sites in Singapore were submitted by Singapore tycoon Kwek Leng Beng’s City Developments and his Malaysian billionaire cousin Quek Leng Chan’s GuocoLand, totaling S$1.35 billion ($1 billion), demonstrating confidence that property prices in the downtown area will remain resilient despite a real estate recession.
• Curbio, the fix-first, pay-at-closing home renovation solution for real estate agents, brokerages, and property sellers, has raised $65 million in a Series B fundraising round to support sustained expansion in the underserved market for fix-first, pay-at-closing home improvement. Revolution Growth, Comcast Ventures, Camber Creek, Brick & Mortar Ventures, Kayne Partners, Second Century Ventures, and Masco Ventures led the fundraising round.

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