Catherine Badour

South Korea firms to ramp up e-grocery business with $940 million from private equity: Reuters

South Korea’s retailers Shinsegae and E-Mart said they were set to gain $940 million from private equity firms, hoping to capitalize on a surge in online grocery shopping and other e-commerce in one of the world’s most wired countries.

Southeast Asia logistics firm Ninja Van raises $85 mln for expansion, says source: Reuters

Southeast Asian last-mile logistics provider Ninja Van said it has completed its latest fundraising round that will be used to expand its regional operations, with one source saying the company raised about $85 million.

Norway wealth fund shuffles U.S. logistics property portfolio: Reuters

Norway’s $1.1 trillion sovereign wealth fund and real estate firm Prologis Inc. (PLD.N) have sold 27 logistics properties from their joint U.S. portfolio to a unit of Blackstone (BX.N), the fund said in a statement on Thursday.

Alibaba, U.S. grocer Kroger had early business development talks: Reuters

Chinese e-commerce and technology company Alibaba Group Holding Ltd and U.S. grocer Kroger Co have had early discussions on working together, including a meeting in which U.S. executives traveled to China, Reuters reported.

Plastics maker Novares back on track with IPO, say sources: Reuters

French plastics maker Novares will re-launch its initial public offering (IPO) on the Paris stock exchange (ENX.PA) in the coming days or weeks after postponing it last November, sources told Reuters.

Google, Tencent, Sequoia China join $15 million funding for pharma startup XtalPi: Reuters

Alphabet Inc’s Google, Tencent Holdings Ltd and Sequoia Capital China have joined a $15 million B series funding round for Boston- and Shenzhen-based artificial intelligence (AI) pharmaceutical firm XtalPi Inc, Reuters reported.

Steinhoff's Conforama unit secures 115 mln euros financing: Reuters

French furniture chain Conforama, which is a unit of troubled South African group Steinhoff, said it had reached agreement with Tikehau Capital for a financing line of 115 million euros ($141.9 million) over three years.

Israeli road hazard warning app Nexar raises $30 million: Reuters

Israel-based Nexar, whose technology warns drivers of real-time road hazards, said on Wednesday it raised $30 million in a financing round led by Ibex Ventures.

Toys "R" Us says to shut a fifth of its U.S. stores: Reuters

Toys “R” Us Inc said on Tuesday it will shut about one-fifth of its stores in the United States in the coming months, as the toy store chain tries to emerge from one of the largest ever bankruptcies by a specialty retailer, Reuters reported.

Claire's Stores hires Lazard to address debt issues: Reuters

U.S. girls’ accessories retailer Claire’s Stores Inc has hired investment bank Lazard Ltd (LAZ.N) to advise it on ways to address its debt burden, it told Reuters on Monday, as several brick-and-mortar store operators suffer from a drop in mall traffic.