VENTURE CAPITAL POST

A study done by CB Insights revealed that only 14% of venture capital firms supported unicorns since 2004. Unicorns refer to young startup firms that have made USD 1 billion exits.

Private equity firms are keeping more money for acquisitions, according to a report from the Financial Times. The "dry power" of private equity funds have risen to USD 789 billion this year.

Valuation results in 3Q13 showed a noticeable increase over 2Q13, including the greatest difference between up and down rounds in over six years. The software industry was especially strong, not only valuation-wise, but also in the number of deals.

Extreme Reality, an Israel-based startup which provides analysis of 3D motion was able to secure USD 10 million in its Series D funding round. The secured funds will be used to expand to additional markets and further develop their system.

Snapchat's rejection of Facebook's USD3 billion acquisition offer raised the question about the true measure of a startup's viability as a profitable company in terms of the number of likes, snaps, and even signups.

US-based private equity firm Carlyle Group LP announced its plan to acquire Canada-based investor in hedge funds Diversified Global Asset Management Corp for USD33 million.

American private equity firm Bain Capital was said to be in talks with other private equity firms to sell its insurance software business Applied Systems Inc. Sources said that the sale could bring in USD1 billion to the investment firm.

Bain Capital has began raising USD3.5 billion for its fourth European private equity fund. The American private equity firm also offered its investors two fee structure to choose from.

The following bids, mergers, acquisitions and disposals were reported on Monday including Greece banking, Fiat, BOFA, Mechel, Saputo, RBS, Lohmann, Carlyle Group, Monte dei Paschi di Siena, Kuwait Airways, Dubai Holding, SunEdison, Blackstone, Greece National Bank, IMG Worldwide, KKR, Babcock, AMR, Orrick, BAC and Fisker Automotive.

Carlyle Group LP said on Monday it has finished raising money for its latest U.S. private equity fund, surpassing its initial $10 billion fundraising target by $3 billion.

Guardian Capital Group Ltd reached agreement to acquire a specialist boutique emerging market equity investment firm in London

Telecommunications and information technology (IT) service provider Coms PLC announced that it has completed the acquisition of Redstone Converged Solutions Ltd in a deal valued at GBP9.5 million.

Swatch Group has raised its stake in Rivoli Investments LLC to take control of the Dubai-based retail group, a move that will give it better control of its retail network in the fast-growing Middle Eastern market.

HarbourVest Partners and Dubai-based private equity firm Lagoon Capital have teamed up to scout for secondary market private equity deals in the Middle East and North Africa.

Australia-based mining logistics firm BIS Industries is buying industrial transport company Powertrans for USD30 million in a debt-funded transaction which will be finalized in January.