VENTURE CAPITAL POST

DuPont and Dow Chemical Co. have agreed for a $130 million merger reflecting ‘merger on equals’. Following the merger, Dow CEO, Andrew Liveris will enjoy the lion share of $52.8 million while Edward Breen, DuPont’s CEO, will get $27.2 million. However, this appears as a true “Golden Parachute’ only for Liveries since Breen has secured job in the proposed merged entity.

As part of its massive restructuring plan, Dow Chemical Co has taken up several measures to increase the bottom line of the company. Dow has decided to review all the available options for its farm chemicals and seeds unit, which has been suffering from sales drop. Dow Chemicals is also considering an option to buy a stake of Coming Inc in a Silicon joint venture (JV). It has increased the dividend payout and is also in the process of offloading its stake in a Kuwait JV engaged in petrochemical products.

DuPont (DD.N) repelled a board challenge from activist investor Nelson Peltz on Wednesday, dealing him a surprising blow after shareholders backed all 12 directors nominated by the U.S. chemical conglomerate's management.

Investors attempting to determine whether U.S. equities will rebound from Friday's selloff or continue to sink will look to a deluge of earnings next week for a clearer picture of the economy.

Foreign exchange swings cost North American corporates $18.66 billion in revenue in the fourth quarter, according to a report by currency risk management consulting firm FiREapps.

Asian stocks showed some resilience on Wednesday as investors speculated whether the Federal Reserve could take a dovish turn in its post-meeting statement later in the session, amid signs a stronger dollar was hurting U.S. corporate profits.

Germany is pressing the European Commission to allow individual EU countries to ban cultivation of crops with genetically modified organisms (GMOs) before the 2015 harvest.

DuPont (DD.N), the biggest U.S. chemicals producer by market value, reported a 52 percent jump in quarterly profit as operating margins rose in five of its seven businesses.

U.S. stocks edged higher in volatile trading on Wednesday after the U.S. Federal Reserve renewed its pledge to keep interest rates near zero for a "considerable time" and repeated concerns over slack in the labor market, standing firm against calls to overhaul its policy statement.

Activist investor Nelson Peltz's Trian Fund Management has called for a break up of DuPont (DD.N), arguing that the diversified chemicals company's overly complex and bloated corporate structure overburdens its seven business lines, the Wall Street Journal reported.

American e-commerce giant Amazon is planning to hire hundreds of workers for its fourth fulfillment center in Kent, Washington, where customer orders will be packed and shipped.

In a tax free spin off, DuPont would be able to spend just USD0.01 to USD0.02 per share.

The real-time insights provider seals a US $15 million funding after the close of a series D financing from two private equity firms.

The annual rankings of the top 10 largest private equity deals of 2012

Bids, mergers, acquisitions and disposals.