Plata, a Mexican Fintech, Raises $250 Million in Global Investment Round
Plata, a Mexican fintech company recently authorized to operate as a bank in Mexico, announced it has secured $250 million in a global investment round. This funding has enabled Plata to double its valuation to $3.1 billion, just six months after completing its Series A round.
The investment round was led by Kora and included participants such as Moore Strategic Ventures, Audeo Ventures, Spice Expeditions, Hedosophia, and various family offices from the United States and Europe. This new capital strengthens Plata’s alliance with TelevisaUnivision, the world’s largest Spanish-language entertainment content provider, initiated in 2024 with their brand campaign.
Fibra Next Approves Real Estate Acquisitions Worth $400 Million
Fibra Next, a real estate administrative company, announced that its shareholders’ assembly unanimously approved the acquisition of three development properties in Toluca, Querétaro, and Cancún. The total amount approved for the transaction is 7,405 million pesos ($400 million), considering a purchase price of 5,000 million pesos and an additional capital investment of 2,405 million pesos to complete development within the investment vehicle.
The average capitalization rate (Cap Rate) for this investment is 10.25%, although the assets include stabilized gross rentable area acquisitions at an average Cap Rate of 7.75%.
Kering Nears Sale of Beauty Division to L’Oréal for $4 Billion
Kering, a French luxury group owning the Gucci fashion brand, is nearing the sale of its beauty division to L’Oréal for approximately $4 billion.
L’Oréal, the world’s leading cosmetics and beauty company, will acquire Creed fragrances and rights to develop beauty products related to Kering’s fashion brands, such as Bottega Veneta, Balenciaga, and McQueen. Kering, controlled by the Pinault French family, launched its beauty division in 2023 when it acquired high-end fragrance brand Creed for €3.5 billion (approximately $4 billion) in cash.
NVIDIA and TSMC Unveil US-Made Chip for AI Applications
NVIDIA and TSMC have presented their first chip manufactured in the United States, which will eventually become Blackwell chips for artificial intelligence applications.
This development is one of the initial outcomes of the Trump administration’s initiative to foster AI technology in the United States.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is Plata, and why is its recent funding significant? Plata is a Mexican fintech company authorized to operate as a bank in Mexico. The $250 million investment round has doubled its valuation to $3.1 billion, showcasing strong investor confidence in the company.
- How will Fibra Next’s real estate acquisitions impact its growth strategy? By approving the purchase of three development properties in Toluca, Querétaro, and Cancún, Fibra Next is expanding its real estate portfolio and implementing its growth strategy of continued expansion in the short term.
- What does Kering’s potential sale of its beauty division to L’Oréal entail? Kering, the French luxury group, is close to selling its beauty division to L’Oréal for around $4 billion. This deal includes acquiring Creed fragrances and rights to develop beauty products related to Kering’s fashion brands.
- What is the significance of NVIDIA and TSMC’s US-made chip for AI? The collaboration between NVIDIA and TSMC to manufacture a chip in the United States is an early result of the Trump administration’s initiative to develop AI technology domestically.
