Feb 25, 2025

I recently learned about a trilateral meeting in Southeast Asia involving Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam, where they discussed enhancing collaboration in the region. This meeting marked a shift in minilateral interactions in mainland Southeast Asia, focusing on adapting to changing dynamics in the area. The discussions emphasized the need for new strategies to boost trilateral cooperation by 2025, given the evolving cross-border situations and regional impacts.

There were concerns raised about growing risks to the U.S. economy due to policy uncertainties and government layoffs. Apollo’s chief economist, Torsten Slok, expressed worries about potential negative effects on the economy and markets from these layoffs and uncertainties. Analysts predicted around 300,000 job cuts linked to the Department of Government Efficiency, which could impact unemployment rates, equities, and credit markets.

In the realm of mergers and acquisitions, Prosus agreed to acquire Just Eat Takeaway, a food delivery company, for €4.1 billion in cash. This deal, making Prosus the fourth-largest food delivery company globally, represented a significant premium over Just Eat Takeaway’s market price. With operations in over 70 countries and stakes in other delivery firms, Prosus’ acquisition is a significant move in the food delivery sector, strengthening its global presence.

Venture capital deals saw NinjaOne securing $500 million in Series C funding, Just Salad raising $200 million, Patlytics raising $14 million, and RADSecurity also raising $14 million in Series A funding. Private equity deals included Apollo buying Bridge Investment Group, Bain Capital acquiring Chemring Group, Blackstone in talks to buy VaxCare, and Brookfield Asset Management purchasing the U.S. onshore renewables business from National Grid.

Lastly, stories emerged about drug use in Silicon Valley and its influence on the tech industry, AI being utilized in startup investing, a bank president falling victim to a financial scam, and the promotion of young individuals, including a DJ and rapper, to top positions in a financial empire. These developments highlight the diverse and dynamic nature of the financial and tech industries, showcasing the various trends and challenges faced in these sectors.

Stay Well!