VENTURE CAPITAL POST

PSA Peugeot Citroen plans to build its next C3 compact model in Slovakia instead of France, sources close to the French carmaker told Reuters on Thursday.

France's controversial decree widening its control over takeovers in strategic industries is meant to help discussions over alliances and is not there to block deals, Economy Minister Arnaud Montebourg told lawmakers on Tuesday.

Marks & Spencer Plc is making a new push to expand abroad, hoping e-commerce will give Britain's biggest clothing retailer a better chance to succeed than earlier attempts to enter new markets.

The collapse of the $35 billion merger of New York-based Omnicom with France's Publicis is likely to lead the world's biggest ad agencies to think small as they try to counter the challenge from internet giants like Google.

Paris-l’hospital, France-based car rental startup Drivy secured $8.3 million (€6 million) in a new funding round with Index Ventures and Alven Capital as lead investors to fuel its expansion in Europe.

Suresnes, France-based therapeutic companion software provider Voluntis landed $29 million (€20.75 million) in its Series D financing round led by Bpifrance Large Venture and Vesalius Biocapital to develop its diabetes management program and expand its US operations.

BTC China has halted deposits of local currency from the China Merchants Bank, causing the value of Bitcoin to fall from $500 to below $440, a 10% difference from its value in the past few days.

Paris, France-based digital publishing firm Webedia added Lebanon-based digital media firm Diwanee for an undisclosed amount to help the latter reach out to women in the Middle East.

Paris, France-based native advertising company Adyoulike added Windsor, UK-based content and marketing firm Content Amp in a deal valued at $2.5 million to beef up its ad campaigns.

Cupertino, US-based smartphone giant Apple launched its iPhone trade-in program in Germany to allow its customers to purchase a new iPhone at a discounted price when they trade in a qualifying old device.

French cross-device tracking and advertising startup Tapvalue nabbed $2.2 million (€1.6 million) in a venture round led by an unnamed venture capitalist and some angels to support its international growth and product development.

Toulouse, France-based Internet of things (IoT) cellular network operator SIGFOX landed €15 million in its Series B funding round led by IDInvest and BPIFrance to accelerate the international deployment of its network.

Bulgaria-based courier firm Speedy will acquire the delivery businesses of France-based firm GeoPost in Romania from LA Poste's GeoPost Group and Yurtichi Cargo Servizi AS for €15.3 million.

Zaragoza, Spain-based paper and packaging firm Saica purchased Istanbul, Turkey-based paperboard producer OMK for an undisclosed amount to establish its position in the European market.

Twitter is now offering an alternative way of sending Tweets via SMS after Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan lambasted social media for linking him to a corruption scandal and blocking the social network in the country.