Us Firms

Firms boost economic data products as trust in official US statistics wanes

Third-party providers garner even more attention during government shutdowns when federal data aren't published

Viceroy Research's claim of ₹2,500 crore sham is baseless: Vedanta

Continuing its triad against mining Moghul Anil Agarwal's Vedanta group, US-based Viceroy Research has alleged that the group's semiconductor unit was a "sham commodities trading operation", designed to avoid classification as an NBFC, a charge the mining conglomerate dismissed as baseless. US short seller Viceroy Research, which last week published a scathing report about Vedanta Group and followed it with similar reports on group companies, in fresh allegations said Vedanta Ltd's subsidiary, Vedanta Semiconductors Pvt Ltd, was part of a scheme to allow the Mumbai-listed firm to remit brand fees to parent Vedanta Resources in April this year, when it faced a severe liquidity crisis. In a statement, Vedanta spokesperson said the group "strongly rejects the baseless allegations made in the report regarding Vedanta Semiconductors Pvt Ltd (VSPL)". "All business activities of VSPL have been transparently disclosed and are in line with statutory norms," it said. Viceroy said, "VSPL is a

Daunted by trade war, US firms in China report record-low investment plans

American companies in China are reporting record-low new investment plans for this year and declining confidence in their profitability, with uncertainty in US-China relations and President Donald Trump's tariffs their top concerns, according to a new survey. The companies are also challenged by China's slowing economy, where weak domestic demand and overcapacity in local industries are eroding profitability for the Americans. Businesses in China are less profitable now than they were years ago, but risks, including reputational risk, regulatory risk, and political risk, are increasing, said Sean Stein, the president of the US-China Business Council, a Washington-based group that represents American companies doing business in China, including major multinationals. The survey, conducted between March and May and drawing from 130 member companies, was released Wednesday. It came as the two countries clash over tariffs and non-tariff measures, including export controls on critical ...

US VC firm Expert Dojo to invest $45 mn in Indian startups by FY28

US-based venture capital firm Expert Dojo on Friday announced plans to invest USD 45 million (about Rs 387 crore) in Indian startups over the next 3-4 years. Launching its USD 100 million global fund at the Expert Dojo Investors Conclave 2025 in Bengaluru, the firm earmarked USD 15 million to be invested in 20-25 Indian startups in FY26. "Expert Dojo will deploy the USD 15 million in the first year to fund 20 to 25 early-stage startups across sectors such as fintech, B2B, SaaS, and AI. While sector-agnostic, the fund will focus on startups with global scalability. Founders can expect investment cheques ranging from USD 50,000 to USD 1 million, alongside access to Expert Dojo's international mentorship and go-to-market network," the company said in a statement. Over the next 2 to 3 years, Expert Dojo plans to invest an additional USD 30 million in Indian startups, the statement said. The company has also opened its India office in Bengaluru, positioning it as a central hub for ...

Playbook Partners to invest $20 mn each in 12-15 firms over 2 years

Growth capital firm Playbook Partners intends to invest USD 20 million (around Rs 175 crore) each in about 12-15 companies over the next two years, a top company official said. The firm's investment portfolio includes companies like Myntra, PolicyBazaar, InMobi, Nazara Technologies, Rapido, and Renee, among others. While primarily investing in India, it has also backed global companies like SpaceX and Stripe. "With planned investments up to USD 20 million each in 12-15 companies, we are targeting high-potential ventures across SaaS, E-commerce, Healthtech, ClimateTech, B2B & B2C, Playbook Partners Founder and Managing Partner Vikas Choudhury said. Our focus is on companies that have crossed Rs 100 crores in turnover, where our capital and expertise can accelerate their journey to the next level of growth," Choudhury told PTI. Commitments to three companies are in the final stages of closing and will be announced over the next quarter, he added. The former Jio president said he has

Russia sues US owner of seized canned food maker over fund transfer

The General Prosecutor's lawsuit, filed on March 5, contained no details, beyond naming the defendants as Smirnov, who is a U.S. citizen, Universal Beverages and other companies

US fintech firm Broadridge to boost India headcount by 26% in 3 years

The plan comes at a time when multinational companies are increasingly setting up local offices, or global capability centres (GCCs), in India to support their daily operations

Donald Trump's return adds to Western firms' dilemma to exit from Russia

Russia tightened its exit terms in October to encourage businesses to stay, demanding discounts of at least 60 per cent on exit transactions and a 35 per cent 'voluntary contribution'

US firms in Europe fear worsening relations as Trump set to take office

The survey, carried out among 58 US-controlled members between Jan. 6 and 14, showed that 84 per cent ranked tariffs and trade policy as a top priority for transatlantic cooperation

US cos rush to bond mkt in fundraising flurry, may raise $65 bn this week

Syndicate bankers expect to see companies raising nearly $65 billion this week, and perhaps as much as $200 billion this month, in a bond issuance spree that is showing no sign of slowing

Adani Group's US exposure spans solar, wind, and Google India operations

AEL says Adani Solar secured its largest single-yr order from a key American utility firm

US firm Alkomex expands R&D ops in India; ropes in expert Sanjay Agrawal

Global pharma company Alkomex GBN looks to expand its research and development footprint in India and has roped in nutraceuticals expert Sanjay Agrawal to spearhead its strategic initiatives in the country, a statement said on Monday. Alkomex GBN has formed a partnership with Dr Sanjay Agrawal, a renowned Indian expert in health management and nutraceuticals, and has appointed him as the Scientific Advisor for Alkomex GBN, the statement said. "His leadership will be instrumental in driving our growth as we continue to expand our footprint in the nutraceutical and functional food sectors," Alkomex CEO Alex Meneses Vega said. Agrawal will be based in Ahmedabad and will spearhead the US firm's research and strategic initiatives, it said, adding that he will guide the company's R&D efforts and integrate Indian research into Alkomex's global operations. The partnership is expected to significantly strengthen Alkomex GBN's capabilities in developing scientifically-backed nutraceuticals .

Retail giant Amazon adds Grubhub food delivery to its website, app in US

As part of the agreement, Amazon Prime members will continue to be eligible to avail a free Grubhub+ membership worth $120 a year, which includes free delivery on orders above $12

Retail giant Walmart to fire hundreds of corporate staff, relocate others

Walmart employed approximately 2.1 million associates as of Jan. 31, 2024, according to regulatory filings

Freshworks founder Mathrubootham steps down as CEO, Woodside takes charge

Girish Mathrubootham becomes executive chairman of Nasdaq-listed SaaS firm to focus on 'long-term' vision

US employers add strong 275K jobs in sign of continued economic strength

America's employers delivered another healthy month of hiring in February, adding a surprising 275,000 jobs and again showcasing the US economy's resilience in the face of high interest rates. Last month's job growth was up from a revised gain of 229,000 jobs in January. The unemployment rate ticked up two-tenths of a point to 3.9 per cent but was still the 25th straight month in which it has remained below 4 per cent. Friday's government report reflected the job market's sustained ability to withstand the 11 rate hikes the Federal Reserve imposed to fight inflation, which made borrowing much costlier for households and businesses. Employers have continued to hire briskly to meet steady demand from consumers across the economy. Yet despite sharply lower inflation, a healthy job market and a record-high stock market, many Americans say they are unhappy with the state of the economy a sentiment that is sure to weigh on President Joe Biden's bid for re-election. Many voters blame Bide

Sun Pharma to acquire 16.33% stake in US-based Surgimatix for $3 million

The transaction is expected to be completed by the end of February 2024, pending fulfilment of certain conditions

US firms in China say vague rules, tensions with Washington, hurting biz

American companies operating in China view tensions with Washington over technology, trade and other issues as a major hindrance for their businesses there, according to a survey by the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai. The survey released on Tuesday showed a continued downgrading of China's importance as an overseas destination for investment, even though two-thirds of the 325 companies responding said they had no immediate plans to change their China strategy. Just over one in five of the companies surveyed said they were decreasing their investment in China this year, with the top reason being uncertainty about the US-China trade relationship, followed by expectations of slower growth in China, it said. Overall, the survey showed sentiment worsened from last year, when companies were embroiled in disruptions from zero-COVID policies that caused parts of entire cities, transport networks and travel to be shut down, sometimes for weeks at a time. Such disruptions were a ma

USA's PowerSchool acquires Indian edtech firm Neverskip for undisclosed sum

The deal will lead to the two companies creating a unified technology platform for school operations

No room to negotiate on national security with China: US commerce secy

Raimondo, who is holding three days of talks with Chinese and business leaders to boost ties, met with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao on Monday for just over two hours