VENTURE CAPITAL POST

Jacksonville, US-based domestic trucking and international shipping firm Momentum Transportation USA Inc acquired JIX International Freight Services for an undisclosed amount to expand its worldwide operations.

The savings of the European Union's 500 million citizens could be used to fund long-term investments to boost the economy and help plug the gap left by banks since the financial crisis, an EU document says.

State-backed fund Innovation Network Corp of Japan (INCJ) entered an agreement to pick up a 20% stake in Kyoto-based robotic hand maker Squse Inc for JPY500 million ($4.9 million), according to three sources familiar with the matter.

Sydney, Australia-based online travel booking service Rezdy pocketed $1 million in a recent funding round from both new and existing investors to establish a new office in San Francisco, US.

Based on data gathered by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, foreign direct investment (FDI) poured into Seoul, South Korea, reached $6 billion in 2013, an all-time high since the global financial crisis hit in 2008.

Munich, Germany-based secondhand clothes marketplace Vinted landed $27 million in a Series B funding round led by Insight Venture Partners and Accel Partners for its expansion to the US.

Texas, US-based tech media startup Daily Dot Media (DDM) added London, UK-based tabloid-style news site The Kernel, whose editor-in-chief is stepping down from his position, for an undisclosed sum.

In its fourth expansion via acquisition, Paris, France-based carpooling site BlaBlaCar added Podorozhniki for an undisclosed sum to tap into the market of Russia and Ukraine.

In a bid to match Silicon Valley's success, the European Commission (EC) launched the Startup Europe Partnership tech startup accelerator and the European Digital Forum think tank at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

Limerick, Ireland-based environmental software developer AMCS Group closed €23.5 million in a funding round led by Highland Capital Partners Europe (HCPE) for its expansion into Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and the Americas.

Berlin, Germany-based multi-mode travel search engine GoEuro received millions in investment in a post-seed funding round from Lakestar to expand its market footprint beyond the UK, Germany, and Spain.

India-based IT and engineering services provider Global Economic Advantage Pvt Ltd purchased Samtel Engineering and Sourcing Solutions Pvt Ltd including its wholly owned German unit for an undisclosed sum.

Germany-based investor-startup matchmaker Venturate has been launched to compete with US-based firm AngelList, a platform that helps lead venture capitalists to the right investment that would fit in their portfolio.

Private equity firms KKR & Co and Permira Advisers exited a 16.6% holding in German commercial broadcaster ProSiebenSat.1 Media AG (PSM)in a deal valued at around €1.26 billion ($1.7 billion).

The French state divested a 1% stake in Netherlands-based aircraft and defense firm Airbus Group for €451 million ($614 million), according to the French economy minister.