🛣️ Toll Road Index Rises 8%. $220M+ VC Funding.
Impact Capital Markets #99 looks at our Toll Roads Stock Index, major impact deals, M&A, and upcoming economic releases.
Talofa 🌴
📉 Today's Global Economic Update: The annual inflation rate in the UK decreased to 2.3% in April from 3.2% in March, the lowest since July 2021, driven by significant drops in gas and electricity costs. Despite this steep decrease, the milder-than-anticipated drop in inflation has led markets to temper expectations of a rate cut in June.
💉 Deal of the Day: Allez Health, a California-based biosensor company, raised a $60M Series A to accelerate its trials.
What's New?
🛣️ Toll Roads. Toll road index rises 4%
💰 Funding. Biosensors, language learning, renewable analytics + more
💼 M&A. Health tech and neurological therapeutics
📅 Economics. Japan inflation data, US GDP, balance of trade + more
🛣️ Toll Road Index Rises 8%
HolonIQ's Toll Road index declined for most of 2H 2023, falling by more than 4% in November. The index has since recovered, increasing by 8% Year-on-Year. Chinese stocks in the index have predominantly shown positive returns, driving the increase in the index. Jiangsu Expressway ($7B MCap) gained 21% over the last year despite a modest rise in net profit in 1Q 2024. Anhui Expressway ($3B MCap) rose by 27%, underpinned by strong financials, with revenue rising by 7% in 1Q 2024. Ongoing construction of toll roads, including the Xihoumen railway-highway dual-use bridge, the world's longest road-rail bridge, and the longest highway tunnel in the Xinjiang region, is likely to drive further growth in firms in the index based in the region. Two Australian firms in the index declined pushing the index downwards. Transurban Group ($25B MCap) fell by 16% and Atlas Arteria ($5B MCap) decreased by 18% over the past year. However, driven by urban sprawl and the rising number of motor vehicles, traffic congestion in Australia is expected to worsen, driving demand for toll roads and potentially leading to a turnaround in outlook.
💰 Funding
💉 Allez Health, a California-based biosensor company, raised a $60M Series A from Osang Healthcare to accelerate trials.
📚 Pratika, a California-based language learning app, raised a $35.5M Series A from Blossom Capital to enhance the app & expand its operations.
🍏 SixPeaks Bio, a Swiss weight loss pharmaceutical company, launched with a $30M Series A from Versant Ventures. The funds will likely be used to develop therapies for weight loss.
🚁 Aerodome, a New York-based company specializing in drone emergency response technology, raised a $21.5M Series A to develop Drone-As-First-Responder solutions.
⚡ Verse, a California-based renewable energy analytics company, raised a $20.5M Series A from Google Ventures to focus on helping corporates reduce electricity costs.
🏥 Amino, a California-based healthcare navigation company, raised $10M from Transformation Capital to accelerate its AI product roadmap for personalized care.
🧬 Captain T Cell, a German biotech company, raised a $9.2M Seed to develop a solid tumor treatment platform.
💼 M&A
📞 Doctolib, a French health-tech company acquired Aaron.ai, a Berlin-based company providing AI-based telephone assistance solutions for medical practices.
🧠 Biogen, a Massachusetts-based neurological therapeutics company, signed a definitive agreement to acquire HI-Bio, a California-based biotech company.
📅 Economic Calendar
Japan Inflation Data, US GDP, Balance of Trade + More
Thursday, May 23rd 2024
🇩🇪 Germany HCOB Manufacturing PMI (Flash), May
🇯🇵 Japan Inflation Data, April
Friday, May 24th 2024
🇬🇧 UK Retail Sales Data, April
🇺🇸 US Durable Goods Orders Data, April
Monday, May 27th 2024
🇩🇪 Germany Ifo Business Climate Index, May
Wednesday, May 29th 2024
🇯🇵 Japan Consumer Confidence Index, May
🇩🇪 Germany GfK Consumer Confidence, June
🇩🇪 Germany Inflation Data Preliminary, May
Thursday, May 30th 2024
🇺🇸 US GDP Growth Data, Q1
🇨🇳 China NBS Manufacturing PMI, May
Friday, May 31st 2024
🇫🇷 France Inflation Data Preliminary, May
🇪🇦 Euro Area Inflation Data (Flash), May
🇮🇹 Italy Inflation Data Preliminary, May
🇮🇳 India GDP Growth Data, Q1
🇨🇦 Canada GDP Growth Data, Q1
🇺🇸 US Core PCE Price Index, April
🇺🇸 US Personal Income & Spending, April
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