Amazon buying Whole Foods for $13.7B
Amazon surprised markets this morning by announcing plans to acquire Whole Foods Market, the grocery chain known for organic products and high prices. Under terms of the agreement, Amazon will pay $42 per share, a 27 percent premium over Thursday’s closing price, in an all-cash deal valued at approximately $13.7 billion, including Whole Foods debt.
Mobike secures $600M
Bike-sharing service Mobike has secured $600 million in fresh funding to expand its global footprint. The latest investment brings total funding to more than $900 million for the Shanghai-based company, which currently operates in about 100 Chinese cities as well as Singapore and Manchester.
Slack said to be raising $500M
Investors with a spare $500 million have decided it makes sense to give it to Slack. The group work messaging platform is reportedly in talks to raise a half-billion-dollar round at a $5 billion post-money valuation, according to media reports. Previously, it was reported that Slack is also fielding acquisition offers from Amazon and others.
Human-named bots on the rise
Siri and Alexa, you’ve got company. A growing number of popular human names are also doubling as names for AI-enabled bot startups. More than 20 such companies have recently raised funding, as the chatbot and digital assistant space heats up, according to a Crunchbase News analysis.
|
