KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 26 (Bernama) -- The Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada (APF Canada) and Universities Canada invited members of the media to attend the second annual Canada-in-Asia Conference (CIAC2024) at the Pan Pacific Singapore from Feb 26 to 29.
According to a statement, with over 430 registrants, the CIAC2024 will focus on two thematic areas, namely Agri-food (Feb 26 to 27) and Climate Solutions (Feb 27 to 29).
The conference will convene business and government leaders, investors and innovators, and researchers and experts from across Asia and Canada to exchange perspectives, knowledge, and ideas and to create collaborative partnerships in these two critical sectors.
APF Canada and Universities Canada confirmed that Republic of Singapore Minister for Sustainability and the Environment and Minister-in-charge of Trade Relations, Grace Fu, will be joining CIAC2024 as the guest of honour and keynote speaker at the Feb 27 Gala Dinner.
-- BERNAMA
Monday, February 26, 2024
CANADA-IN-ASIA CONFERENCE 2024 KICKS OFF IN SINGAPORE
Thursday, February 22, 2024
Paratus Sciences Hires Theresa Heah As CEO
KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 22 (Bernama) -- Paratus Sciences Corporation, a biotechnology company accelerating the discovery of novel therapeutics by leveraging the extraordinary adaptive biology of bats, has appointed Dr Theresa Heah as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and a member of its Board of Directors.
According to a statement, Dr Heah brings over two decades of drug development and commercial experience in therapeutics and platform technologies to Paratus.
“Theresa brings a tremendous wealth of experience as a seasoned pharma and biotech executive, having spearheaded the development and commercialisation of multiple innovative therapies.
“She is well poised to guide Paratus as it continues to build its proprietary platform, advance its novel discovery portfolio, and grow its team and capabilities,” said the company’s founding CEO, chair of its Board of Directors and Polaris Partners Executive Partner, Amir Nashat.
Meanwhile, Dr Heah said Paratus’s unique scientific premise, coupled with its proprietary bioinformatics and genomics-rich platform, has the potential to accelerate its ability to identify novel targets and discover innovative medicines.
“I look forward to working with our team to progress our drug discovery efforts, with an initial focus on immunology and inflammation, and metabolism,” she said.
Dr Heah most recently served as the CEO and President of Intergalactic Therapeutics, a non-viral gene therapy platform company. Prior to Intergalactic, she was Chief Medical Officer at several companies, namely Kriya Therapeutics where she also served as President; and AsclepiX Therapeutics also as Executive Vice President of Operations.
Earlier in her career, she held leadership positions in a number of private and public companies, including Aerie Pharmaceuticals, Allergan, Bayer Healthcare, Fovea Pharmaceuticals and Sanofi.
Dr Heah trained as a physician at the University of London, United Kingdom, specialising in ophthalmology, and later earned her Executive Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the European School of Management & Technology (ESMT) in Berlin.
-- BERNAMA
START-UPS CHALLENGED TO HELP DEVELOP CARBON CAPTURE TECHNOLOGY FOR GLOBAL INDUSTRY'S PUSH TO NET ZERO
LONDON, Feb 21 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- A pioneering international programme, which brings together tech start-ups and leading manufacturers in the pursuit of net zero, has launched.
Innovandi Open Challenge 2024 is run by the Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA), the industry’s leading international body which is focused on helping the global cement industry reduce its emissions and ultimately achieve net zero concrete.Applications are being encouraged from start-ups from around the world, interested in working on the development of carbon capture use and storage, for low carbon cement and concrete. Innovative technologies are sought, which include process integrated and end-of-pipe CO2 capture and use, and help prevent the carbon being emitted into the atmosphere.
This will be the 3rd Innovandi Open Challenge and builds on the success of previous years. The first challenge, in 2022, also focused on the development of carbon capture technology, and two start-ups have already gone to pilot stage. The 15 start-ups shortlisted in last year’s 2nd Innovandi Challenge, to work on the development of low carbon concrete, are currently in discussion with manufacturers about forming partnerships.
Claude Loréa, the GCCA’s Cement, Innovation and ESG Director, said: “Our industry is committed to achieving net zero and the development of carbon capture technology is a key part of that work. Our world leading Innovandi Open Challenge programme has already seen remarkable progress being made in just two years, with start-ups and our member companies working together. We’re looking forward to seeing what this year’s applicants can bring, to build on the extensive work that is already underway across the world.”
All GCCA members who account for 80% of global cement production capacity outside of China, and a number of leading Chinese manufacturers, have committed to reaching net zero, by 2050, through the GCCA’s Concrete Future 2050 Net Zero Roadmap – the first global industry to set out such a detailed plan. The GCCA has also recently signed a ground-breaking agreement to work together on decarbonisation with the China Cement Association (CCA).
Monday, February 19, 2024
OPENGEAR’S SMART MANAGEMENT FABRIC ENHANCES REMOTE ACCESS
3D INVESTMENT PARTNERS PRESENTS INVESTOR PRESENTATION MATERIALS ON SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS TO APPOINT A CORPORATE AUDITOR AND IMPLEMENT A CONDITIONAL SHARE BUYBACK AT FUJISOFT
TOKYO, Feb 20 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- 3D Investment Partners Pte. Ltd., as investment manager of 3D OPPORTUNITY MASTER FUNDER (together, “3D”) today published a presentation regarding its shareholder proposals to enhance Board oversight and accountability and maximize corporate value at Fuji Soft Incorporated ("FUJISOFT" or the “Company”) (9749.T), which will be presented at the Company’s 54th annual general meeting of shareholders scheduled to be held on March 15, 2024 (the "Annual General Meeting"). 3D has proposed the appointment of one external corporate auditor and the implementation of a share repurchase of FUJISOFT's common stock, which would become effective should the Board of Directors reject the take-private proposal.
The presentation details can be found at the following website:
https://www.3dipartners.com/engagement/fujisoft-presentation-on-shareholderproposal-en-202402.pdf
As the largest shareholder of FUJISOFT with over 21% of outstanding shares, 3D has been engaged in constructive dialogue with FUJISOFT over the past four years. In September 2023, 3D approached potential acquirers in Japan and overseas, and received take-private proposals for FUJISOFT from several prominent private equity funds (“Proposers”) at prices significantly higher than the share price at the time and submitted them to FUJISOFT's Board of Directors. These proposals, as FUJISOFT itself admits,1 were " bona fide offers " under the "Guidelines for Corporate Takeovers" published by the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry on August 31, 2023.
Upon receipt of any “bona fide offers”, FUJISOFT is required to give “sincere consideration” to them. In other words, proposals should be submitted to the Board of Directors, the Board of Directors should obtain additional information from the acquirers about their take-private proposals, and then the Board of Directors should consider the appropriateness of taking FUJISOFT private from the perspective of whether the acquisition would contribute to enhancing corporate value2.
FUJISOFT has now established a special committee consisting solely of outside directors to "consider all management options that could maximize corporate value" as well as "enhance the collaborative interests of shareholders"1 and is proceeding with its evaluation of the take-private proposals.
However, 3D is concerned that the review process that FUJISOFT is pursuing will not maximize FUJISOFT’s corporate value. FUJISOFT is currently attempting to consider the appropriateness of each take-private proposal by comparing the proposals received from Proposers with the "intrinsic value" based on the new medium-term management plan announced in February 2023. In our view, this review process is flawed, incomplete, and based on incorrect assumptions. First, to our knowledge, the special committee has not solicited take-private proposals on its own. In addition, the special committee has not engaged at a level sufficient to refine these proposals and increase prices with interested parties by providing customary due diligence materials.
Additionally, FUJISOFT has not requested each Proposers to submit updated proposals reflecting the significant changes to the Company’s business and opportunities since the proposals were delivered in September 2023, including the announcement of the extremely ambitious new medium-term management plan.3
Furthermore, this ambitious new medium-term management plan announced in February 2023 was formulated with the Proposer’s take-private price in mind. 3D is concerned that the special committee may derive an overly optimistic “intrinsic value” by overestimating the feasibility of the new plan and underestimating FUJISOFT’s cost of capital.
3D expects that FUJISOFT’s directors will embrace their responsibility to maximize corporate value and protect the interest of shareholders, through conducting a thorough, comprehensive strategic review process. Specifically, 3D is asking FUJISOFT to (1) maximize the value of the take-private proposal by soliciting take-private proposals that take into account the major changes to FUJISOFT’s circumstances4 and engaging constructively with interested parties, and (2) apply an appropriate comparative method (rather than a comparison to an "intrinsic value") that examines the value of the proposals from the perspective of whether the proposed acquisition price is at an appropriate premium to the share price after the announcement of the new medium-term management plan. 3D believes that, if this methodology is not used, FUJISOFT is unlikely to maximize corporate value and protect the interest of shareholders.
Proposed Appointment of Stephen Givens as the Corporate Auditor
3D believes that the appointment of one additional external corporate auditor will enhance the effectiveness of the above review process. A corporate auditor is required to play a role5 in monitoring whether the supervisory function of the board of directors is being properly exercised to enhance corporate value, which in turn contributes to the prevention of inappropriate management decisions by the board of directors in the review process on the take-private proposals. In this instance, as the decision the Board faces is the consideration of a take-private proposal, it is essential that the auditor have knowledge of M&A and corporate governance. Accordingly, 3D proposed the appointment of Mr. Stephen Givens, a U.S. corporate lawyer based in Tokyo for over thirty years with deep experience in the aforementioned areas, as an outside corporate auditor of FUJISOFT.
Share Repurchase Proposal to be Effective if the Board of Directors Does Not Accept the Take-private Proposal
If the Board of Directors determines not to accept the take-private proposal, the share price at that point would be significantly lower than the "intrinsic value" based on the New Medium-Term Management Plan. In our view, FUJISOFT should then aim to close the gap between its market share price and its “intrinsic value” (as determined by the Board of Directors) through a meaningful share repurchase. 3D believes that share repurchases are the most straightforward and direct way to close such a gap. 3D is proposing that, if the Board rejects the takeover proposal, FUJISOFT should conduct a share buyback of 75 billion yen within one year after the close of the Annual General Meeting.
3D believes that 75 billion yen is a reasonable amount for a share repurchase for the following reasons:
- The amount of excess capital elimination required for FUJISOFT to achieve a return on equity that is competitive with the Company’s peers is approximately 135 billion yen.6
- The total amount of share buyback committed by the company in the new medium-term management plan is 100 billion yen.7
- The distributable amount of FUJISOFT8 and net cash on a consolidated basis9 after real estate sales are 155 billion yen each.
- The latest distributable amount on a stand-alone basis is 77 billion yen.10
As described above, 3D believes our respective proposals will help maximize FUJISOFT's corporate value by enhancing the effectiveness of the strategic review process and closing the large gap between FUJISOFT’s market price and its intrinsic value if the Board determines not to accept the take-private proposals.
About 3D Investment Partners Pte.
3D Investment Partners Pte. Ltd. is an independent Singapore-based, Japan focused value investing fund manager founded in 2015. 3D Investment Partners Pte. Ltd. focuses on partnering with management who share its investment philosophy of medium to long-term value creation through compound capital growth and a common objective of achieving long-term returns.
Disclaimer
This press release is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to purchase or sell any security or investment product, nor does it constitute professional or investment advice. This press release should not be relied on by any person for any purpose and is not, and should not be construed as, investment, financial, legal, tax, or other advice.
3D Investment Partners Pte. Ltd., and its affiliates, and their related persons ("3DIP") believe that the current market price of FUJISOFT does not reflect its intrinsic value. 3DIP acquired beneficial and/or economic interest based on its own idea that FUJISOFT securities have been undervalued, provides attractive investment opportunities, and may in the future beneficially own and/or have an economic interest in FUJISOFT securities. 3DIP intends to review its investments in FUJISOFT on a continuing basis and, depending upon various factors including, without limitation, FUJISOFT's financial position, and strategic direction, the outcome of any discussions with FUJISOFT, overall market conditions, other investment opportunities available to 3DIP, and the availability of FUJISOFT securities at prices that would make the purchase or sale of FUJISOFT securities desirable,. 3DIP may, from time to time (in the open market or in private transactions), buy, sell, cover, hedge, or otherwise change the form or substance of any of its investments (including the investment in FUJISOFT securities)to any degree, in any manner permitted by any applicable law, and expressly disclaims any obligation to notify others of any such changes.
No representation or warranty, either expressed or implied, in relation to the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information contained herein, nor is it intended to be a complete statement or summary of the securities, markets, or developments referred to herein. 3DIP expressly disclaims any responsibility or liability for any loss whatsoever arising from any use of, or reliance on, this press release or its contents as a whole or in part by any person, or otherwise arising in connection with the press release. 3DIP hereby expressly disclaims any obligation to update or provide additional information regarding the contents of this press release or to correct any inaccuracies in the information contained in this press release. 3DIP disclaims any intention or agreement to be treated as a joint holder (kyodo hoyu sha) under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act of Japan, a closely related party (missetsu kankei sha) under the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Act with other shareholders, or receiving any power or permission to represent other shareholders in relation to the exercise of their voting rights, and has no intention to solicit, encourage, induce, or require any person to cause other shareholders to represent such voting rights.
3DIP has no intention of making a proposal, directly or through other shareholders of FUJISOFT, to transfer or abolish the business or asset of FUJISOFT and/or FUJISOFT group companies at the general shareholders meeting of FUJISOFT. 3DIP does not have the intention and purpose to engage in any conduct which constricts the continuing and stable implementation of business of FUJISOFT and/or FUJISOFT group companies.
This press release may include content or quotes from news coverage or other third-party public sources ("Third-Party Materials”). Permission to quote from Third-Party Materials in this press release may not have been sought nor obtained. The content of the Third-Party Materials has not been independently verified by 3DIP and does not necessarily represent the views of 3DIP. The authors and/or publishers of Third-Party Materials are independent of, and may have different views than 3DIP. The quoted Third-Party Materials on this press release do not imply that 3DIP endorses or concurs with any part of the content of the Third-Party Materials, or that any of the authors or publishers of the Third-Party Materials endorses or concurs with any views which have been expressed by 3DIP in the relevant subject matter. The Third-Party Materials may not be representative of all relevant news coverage or views expressed by other third parties on the stated issues.
In respect to information that has been prepared by 3DIP (and not otherwise attributed to any other party) and which appear in the English language version, the meaning of the Japanese language version shall prevail unless otherwise expressly indicated in case of any contradictions between the Japanese version and the English version.
1 Notice Concerning Progress of Corporate Value Enhancement Measures" FUJISOFT January 12, 2024
2 “Guidelines for Corporate Takeovers" Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry published on August 31,2023
3 “Medium-Term Management Plan 2028" FUJISOFT February 14, 2024
4 The take-private proposal submitted by 3D is as of the end of July 2023, but the share price has since risen 31%. FUJISOFT announced a real estate liquidation plan in August 2023, acquisition of a listed subsidiary in November 2023, and an ambitious new medium-term management plan in February 2024 that aims for an operating income CAGR of 16.8% over the next five years.
5 Standards on Auditing by Corporate Auditors" Japan Corporate Auditors Association, July 23, 2015
6 Net assets after taking into account unrealized gains on real estate before share buybacks as of December 2026 are calculated to derive the amount of excess capital required to achieve a competitive ROE of 16.5%. Based on the December 2023 financial results, updated from the figures as of the time of the shareholder proposal, with an assumed net income (the Bloomberg Consensus Operating Income multiplied by 70%) for the period from December 2024 to December 2026 and an assumed dividend payout ratio of 35%, 3D calculated the net assets after considering unrealized gains on real estate before share repurchases as of December 2026.
7 Medium-Term Management Plan 2028" FUJISOFT February 14, 2024
8 “The distributable amount before the sale of real estate was calculated using the book value of retained earnings, legal reserve, other capital surplus, and treasury stock for the year ending December 31, 2022, and non-consolidated net income and dividends for the year ending December 31, 2023. Then, calculated by adding unrealized gains on real estate assuming real estate market value of 195,429 million yen (based on third-party calculations), book value of 84,536 million yen, and a tax rate of 30%.
9 Net Cash for FY12/2023 is calculated as Cash and Deposits + Marketable Securities + Investment Securities - Short-term Debt-Long-term Debt - Commercial Paper. Real estate market value of 195,429 million yen (based on third-party calculations), book value of 84,536 million yen, and a tax rate of 30% are assumed for calculating generated cash from the sale of the real estate.
10 Calculated using non-consolidated other capital surplus as of FY12/2022 (0.5 billion yen) + other retained earnings (75.0 billion yen) - treasury stock (4.6 billion yen) + non-consolidated net income as of FY12/2023 (10.8 billion yen) - total dividends for FY12/2023 (4.4 billion yen: from CF statement)
11 Based on the average daily trading volume (126,600 shares) over the past six months at the time of the shareholder proposal and market participation rate of 35%, share repurchasing within 1 year is feasible. Based on examples of share buybacks at Citizen Watch and Toshiba, 3D assumes that a 35% market participation rate is feasible. Citizen Watch acquired approximately 17% of its outstanding shares (excluding treasury stock) between February 2023 and June 2023, with the average number of shares acquired per day being about 36% of the average daily volume for the six months prior to the announcement of the share buyback. Toshiba acquired approximately 30% of its total outstanding shares (excluding treasury stock) between November 2018 and November 2019, with the average number of shares acquired per day at that time being approximately 35% of the average daily volume for the six months prior to the day before the share repurchase was announced (Toshiba uses ToSTNET).
View source version on businesswire.com:
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240218338140/en/
Contact
KRIK (PR Agent)
Koshida: +81-70-8793-3990
Sugiyama: +81-70-8793-3989
Source : 3D Investment Partners Pte. Ltd.
Friday, February 16, 2024
JITTERBIT NAMES BILL CONNER PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Former Entrust and SonicWall President and CEO brings veteran leadership and a focus on strategic transformation
ALAMEDA, Calif., Feb 14 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Jitterbit, a global leader for empowering transformation through automation, today announced that it has named Bill Conner President and Chief Executive Officer and a member of the company's Board, effective immediately.Conner is among the most experienced security, data, and infrastructure executives worldwide. Some of his many successes were during his time as President and CEO of Entrust and SonicWall, where under his guidance both companies surpassed the ambitious financial and operational metrics set across their organizations. In his three decades of leadership, Conner has re-engineered product lines, built world-class service organizations, re-aligned global sales organizations, and created industry-leading marketing campaigns to deliver tremendous financial results.
“Bill has led multiple cybersecurity, SaaS, data networks, and other technology companies to great success during the most transformational technology shifts in the Digital Information Age, and we’re confident his visionary and operating leadership will equip Jitterbit to capitalize on the exciting market growth we see on the horizon,” said Iveshu Bhatia, a Managing Director at Audax Private Equity.
“I am really excited to be joining Jitterbit at a pivotal moment in its growth journey. I look forward to building on some of the foundational elements that have set the company apart: our exceptional culture, our product leadership, and our position in the business digital revolution. I have a deep passion for the market, the company, and the products, and am inspired by the team’s vast achievements,” Conner said. “I want to thank the Board for their confidence in my leadership, and I look forward to building upon the tremendous foundation and talent already in place at Jitterbit.”
Timothy Mack, Partner at Audax Private Equity, remarked, “Jitterbit is poised for an exciting new chapter with the appointment of Bill Conner as President and Chief Executive Officer. It marks a strategic shift in leadership in guiding the company through its next phase of unprecedented growth. We look forward to Bill’s vast experience with go-to market sales enablement, renewals, service excellence, renewed roadmaps and operational mastery.”
Conner replaces George Gallegos, who led Jitterbit as CEO since 2011.
“Leading this company for the past decade has been an honor,” said Gallegos. “Throughout this period, we’ve expanded our global footprint reaching new markets, transitioned our products to the cloud, and guided the company through multiple acquisitions to deliver additional value to our customers. I am grateful for the Board's support in my decision to step down, and I feel confident that handing the reins to a technology veteran and pioneering leader like Bill Conner marks the beginning of a new chapter, ushering in fresh perspectives to propel our organization forward into a dynamic future.”
Said Conner, “I want to thank George for leading Jitterbit’s charter over the past 13 years, building and scaling its growth from inception to its current position as one of the leading iPaaS providers in the industry. We are grateful for the solid foundation he has built for the company and look forward to him continuing on the Board.”
To learn more about Jitterbit, please visit www.jitterbit.com.
Thursday, February 15, 2024
ZEXTRAS' FREE AND OPEN-SOURCE PLATFORM ENHANCES PRIVACY, CONTROL FOR BUSINESSES
KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 15 (Bernama) -- Zextras, an industry-leading software development company, has launched its Carbonio Community Edition (CE), a cutting-edge, fully open-source digital workplace platform designed to enable organisations to self-host their collaboration environment for heightened privacy and control.
Carbonio CE offers unparalleled privacy for businesses looking for a robust alternative to open-source solutions such as Zimbra OS or Software as a Service (SaaS) solutions such as G Suite, according to a statement.
As a Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) solution, Carbonio CE grants users complete control over their software infrastructure, enabling customisation and integration that align with any company's specific requirements.
This powerful platform integrates essential communication tools namely, email, calendars, contacts, tasks, chats and video chats, facilitating a cohesive environment where team members can easily connect and collaborate from any location whether via web client or mobile devices.
Privacy and security are at the forefront of Carbonio CE's design, ensuring that sensitive data is kept confidential and safeguarded against unauthorised access.
Zextras has harnessed the power of open-source technology, offering businesses of all sizes an enterprise-grade solution without the enterprise-level costs.
Carbonio CE's scalable architecture ensures that it can effortlessly adapt to organisations' evolving needs, making it ideal for small to medium businesses.
In addition to the natively available features, Carbonio CE is bolstered by Zextras' celebrated expertise in email solutions and collaboration systems.
This new offering is set to revolutionise how businesses communicate internally and is a testament to Zextras' dedication to delivering first-rate technological solutions.
Carbonio CE is now available for download, enabling businesses to take their first step toward a more secure, efficient, and collaborative digital workplace.
-- BERNAMA
Wednesday, February 14, 2024
CROWDSTRIKE'S INDIA OFFICE CEMENTS COMMITMENT TO PROTECT BUSINESSES FROM CYBER ATTACKS
KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 15 (Bernama) -- CrowdStrike, a global cybersecurity leader, has opened its new, state-of-the-art office in Pune, India, significantly strengthening the company’s presence in the region.
The new, 52,000 square foot facility nearly doubles the capacity of previous facilities in Pune, cementing the cybersecurity leader’s commitment to protecting organisations in India and across the region.
Its president Michael Sentonas said India plays a critical role in the growth and development of its global operations and is a leading reason why it established its Innovation and Development Center in the heart of Pune.
“Our development team in India has played a pivotal role in delivering the innovation and powerful platform capabilities our customers require to stop breaches.
“We will continue to invest in key regions like India to make the Falcon platform, the gold-standard of protection, available to every customer around the world,” he said in a statement.
The expanded office in Pune underscores CrowdStrike’s commitment to investing in global operations and extending its mission of stopping breaches to organisations worldwide.
Headquartered in the United States with global operations, CrowdStrike is one of the fastest growing and most innovative security companies in the world. The company has been investing in India since 2018, when it first opened the CrowdStrike Innovation and Development Center in Pune to serve as its regional hub for talent, innovation and customer engagement.
The expanded facility and market presence supports the continued growth of the global product, engineering and business services teams.
The company recently opened a new Asian hub in Singapore, and continues to achieve certifications by global governments and industry associations to expand access and accelerate the adoption of the AI-native CrowdStrike Falcon XDR platform.
-- BERNAMA
Tuesday, February 13, 2024
PREMIUM EDUCATION WITH CITIZENSHIP RIGHTS CREATES SIGNIFICANT OPPORTUNITY - HENLEY & PARTNERS STUDY
KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 13 (Bernama) -- International wealth advisory firm Henley & Partners has published pioneering new research into how first-class education, combined with expanded global access rights, creates significant opportunity for the next generation.
According to a statement, these opportunities enable them to grow their global networks, maximise their career prospects, earning potential, and economic mobility for greater success and prosperity across their lifetimes.
The Henley Opportunity Index, a proprietary new benchmarking tool showcased in the firm’s inaugural Henley Education Report, quantifies the impact and probability of success that a premium education coupled with additional residence rights and/or alternative citizenships acquired via investment migration, can have on preserving and growing multi-generational wealth.
Henley & Partners Group Head of Private Clients, Dominic Volek said both education and investment migration are ‘inter-generational enablers’ and this is the first study of its kind that attempts to measure the comparative advantage of this potent combination.
“Our index helps guide families on tailored investment migration strategies to clear pathways for their children and heirs to access the world’s best schooling, most lucrative job markets, and enhanced quality of life through the privileges and flexibility of alternative residence and citizenship by investment options that give them the right to study, live, work, and invest in countries of their choice,” he said.
Using the comparative function of the Henley Opportunity Index, a Filipino family whose total opportunity score sits at just 23 per cent in their home country, could raise the probability of success for the next generation to 82 per cent by accessing residence rights in the United States (US) via the US EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program.
Similarly, for a Vietnamese family on 24 per cent, relocating to Switzerland through the Swiss Residence Program would increase their advantage to 85 per cent, and for Nigerians with an opportunity score of just 14 per cent, an investment in the Singapore Global Investor Program, would uplift their life chances by 65 per cent to a remarkable 79 per cent.
As Henley & Partners Education Director, Tess Wilkinson points out in the report, education alone cannot guarantee opportunities in the future job market.
“Investing in your child’s education is universally acknowledged as one of the best ways to set them up for success later in life, with multiple studies showing that those with tertiary qualifications earn around 50 per cent more,” added Wilkinson.
The Henley Opportunity Index identifies 15 attractive investment migration pathways into countries that are prime locations for educators, entrepreneurs, and inheritors aiming to thrive in coming decades.
-- BERNAMA
Saturday, February 10, 2024
TRACKINSIGHT 2024 GLOBAL ETF SURVEY REPORT RELEASED: UNVEILING 50+ CHARTS ON WORLDWIDE ETF TRENDS
Trackinsight, in Partnership with J.P. Morgan Asset Management and State Street, Unveils the Global ETF Survey 2024 Report ‘50+ Charts of Worldwide ETF Trends’. A Comprehensive Overview of Worldwide ETF Trends Highlighting Industry Innovations and Growth Opportunities.
Hong Kong, Feb 8 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Trackinsight, a global leader in ETF research and analytics, today announced the release of its Global ETF Survey 2024 Report: ‘50+ Charts on Worldwide ETF Trends’, in partnership with J.P. Morgan Asset Management and State Street.The fifth annual survey report, now freely available on trackinsight.com, provides a comprehensive analysis of the ETF industry, covering trends, growth, and innovation. It leverages Trackinsight's global database of over 10,000 ETPs and features insights from more than 500 investment professionals managing ETF assets exceeding $900 billion.
Report highlights:
· Global ETF Growth: In 2023, ETF assets surged to a remarkable $11 trillion, showcasing a pattern of sustained growth. In APAC, there was a substantial asset rebound compared to 2022; however, net flows have consistently declined since 2020.
· Active ETF Momentum: In North America, active ETF strategies secured 25% of the flows in 2023, bringing total category’s assets in the region to $630 billion. In contrast, Europe, where interest is slowly growing, lags significantly with only $32 billion in assets, emphasizing investors' ongoing preference for passive strategies. Meanwhile, in APAC, active ETFs witnessed a revival in interest after two years of weaker demand.
· Thematic Investments: Global interest in thematic investing in 2023 continues to be subdued when compared to the levels seen during the pandemic years. AI, Robotics, and Automation themes take the global spotlight with $3.6 billion in inflows in the U.S. and Europe, while the Nuclear Energy theme sees a surge in the U.S. with $1 billion in new capital. Europe's commitment to Net Zero 2050 and Climate Change themes remains strong with over $10 billion in new inflows.
· ESG Cross-Atlantic Polarity: In 2023, Europe reaffirms its global leadership in the ESG market, injecting an impressive $50 billion into ESG ETFs. Europe now commands a remarkable 75% share of the global $550 billion ESG ETF assets, reaching an all-time high. In contrast, the U.S. experiences a widening gap due to across-the-aisle pushback. In APAC, investors added over $1 billion to the ESG category, although notably lower than the previous two years.
· Fixed Income Revival: For the fourth consecutive year, North America witnessed net flows into fixed income ETFs surpassing $200 billion, driving the total assets in the region to exceed $1.5 trillion. In Europe, there were $66 billion in inflows, double the amount from the previous year, bringing the region's total assets closer to the half-trillion-dollar mark. In APAC, interest surged significantly, resulting in increased flows compared to the previous year and expanding the total assets in that category. This resurgence across regions has contributed to global fixed income assets reaching a historic milestone of $2 trillion.
· Insights from the Survey Respondents: Investors are strategically expanding their allocations to diverse asset classes via ETFs, with a pronounced focus on equity and fixed income. European investors continue to prioritize ESG investing, and interest in active management is widespread across different regions. Thematic investing appetite is present but in a minor satellite exposure capacity, while caution prevails when it comes to cryptocurrencies.
Philippe Malaise, CEO of Trackinsight, commented, "This year's Global ETF Survey underscores the vibrant expansion and the transformative potential of the ETF industry. Our collaboration with J.P. Morgan and State Street has enabled us to present a report that not only captures the current state of the market but also offers forward-looking insights that will benefit investors and industry stakeholders alike. The findings highlight the adaptability of ETFs to market changes and investor needs, reinforcing their essential role in contemporary investment strategies."
Wednesday, February 7, 2024
CARRY1ST ANNOUNCES STRATEGIC INVESTMENT FROM SONY INNOVATION FUND
CAPE TOWN, South Africa, Feb 6 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Carry1st, Africa’s leading game publisher and digital commerce platform, announces a strategic investment by Sony Innovation Fund, the venture capital arm of Sony Group Corporation (“Sony”). Carry1st is the inaugural investment out of Sony Innovation Fund: Africa, which was established by Sony as an initiative to support the growth of entertainment businesses in Africa.
Driven by rapidly increasing technology adoption, Africa’s gaming industry has over 200 million unique players and is set to reach a market size of over $1 billion in 2024, according to data from Newzoo and Carry1st. While there is limited formal console presence, Africa presents an incredible growth opportunity for this sector, particularly with the rise of live services."We are thrilled to join forces with Sony Innovation Fund: Africa," said Cordel Robbin-Coker, CEO and Co-founder of Carry1st. "The relationship will help Carry1st to drive the future of gaming in Africa. At Carry1st, we believe that the African console market is a massively underestimated opportunity. Our distinct regional capabilities, paired with Sony's expertise in gaming and entertainment, creates a powerful combination. Together, we hope to bring the best games in the world to players across Africa.”
Tuesday, February 6, 2024
ENTROPIK SURVEY: 76 PCT MARKETERS VIEW INSIGHTS AI RISING POPULARITY AS HUGE OPPORTUNITY
Saturday, February 3, 2024
NX Netherlands Secures IATA CEIV Pharma Certification
KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 2 (Bernama) -- Nippon Express (Nederland) B.V. (NX Netherlands), a group company of Nippon Express Holdings Inc, has acquired the Center of Excellence for Independent Validators in Pharmaceutical Logistics (CEIV Pharma) certification, a quality certification for pharmaceutical transport.
Established by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), this certification is for its warehouse facility in Schiphol Trade Park near Amsterdam Airport Schiphol in the Netherlands, effective Dec 7, 2023, according to a statement.
NX Netherlands had already received Good Distribution Practice (GDP) certification in September 2021, evidencing its compliance with internationally recognised standards for the proper distribution of pharmaceuticals.
Hence, with the acquisition of CEIV Pharma certification, it will now be able to provide safer and higher-quality pharmaceutical transportation services in the Netherlands, an important hub for the pharmaceutical industry.
A quality certification programme, CEIV Pharma covers the air transport of pharmaceutical products that sets out high standards encompassing the differing GDP guidelines of countries around the world for the storage and transport of pharmaceuticals.
The Nippon Express (NX) Group has positioned the pharmaceutical industry as a key industry and is pursuing the global development of a safe and secure pharmaceutical logistics platform to meet the ever more sophisticated and diverse needs of the pharmaceutical logistics industry.
The NX Group is committed to contributing to the health of people worldwide by supporting its customers in the global pharmaceutical industry from a logistics perspective through the establishment of a reliable and safe global pharmaceutical logistics platform.
-- BERNAMA
MGA ENTERTAINMENT LAUNCHES 4 SUBSIDIARIES IN THE EUROPEAN UNION
Friday, February 2, 2024
HAZER ACHIEVES FIRST HYDROGEN AND GRAPHITE AT COMMERCIAL DEMONSTRATION PLANT
- First hydrogen and graphite production from CDP successfully achieved.
- Ramp up of operation to continue through H1 2024 leading to continuous production.
- World’s first commercial-level demonstration of Hazer methane pyrolysis technology producing clean hydrogen and graphite.
The Company expects to ramp up operations through the 1st half of CY2024, safely executing the performance testing program to deliver data that demonstrates its commercial readiness. The performance testing program will focus on demonstrating continuous operation at a commercial scale and be leveraged into Hazer’s global commercial project portfolio. Hazer will provide updates as key results become available.
Hazer’s CEO and MD Glenn Corrie said: “This is a landmark achievement for Hazer, as we realise the successful start-up of our CDP and the production of low-cost, low-emissions hydrogen and graphitic carbon utilising our world-first pyrolysis technology. As the team strive towards extended continuous operation of the plant in 2024 we are excited to build on this momentum for the next scale-up of the technology with our global partners in key markets, including North America, Europe and Asia.
“The CDP is the culmination of over 10 years of leading-edge research, development and engineering innovation, and is a testament to the Hazer team’s dedication, courage and resilience in reaching this milestone. I would like to acknowledge our shareholders, partners and other key stakeholders that supported our journey towards becoming a leading commercial clean-technology company.
“This is an important juncture for Hazer commercialisation strategy. Our pipeline of opportunities is growing and with our CDP proving our technology can operate at commercial scale, I’m confident that 2024 will open-up further demand for our disruptive technology that can provide clean hydrogen to accelerate global decarbonisation.”
This announcement is authorised for release by the Board of the Company.
For further information or investor enquiries, please contact:
Corporate Enquiries
Hazer Group
Email: contact@hazergroup.com.au
Phone: +61 8 9329 3358
Media enquiries
WE Communications – Ana Harrop
Email: anah@we-worldwide.com
Phone: +61 452 510 255
About Hazer Group Ltd
Hazer Group is an Australian technology company, driving global decarbonisation efforts with the commercialisation of the company’s disruptive world-leading climate-tech. Hazer’s advanced technology enables the production of clean and economically competitive hydrogen and high-quality graphite, using a natural gas (or biogas) feedstock and iron-ore as the process catalyst.
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Forward-looking Statements
This announcement may contain certain "forward-looking statements" which may not have been based solely on historical facts but are based on the Company's current expectations about future events and results.
Where the Company expresses or implies an expectation or belief as to future events or results, such expectation or belief is expressed in good faith and believed to have a reasonable basis. However, forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties, assumptions, and other factors, which could cause actual results to differ materially to futures results expressed, projected, or implied by such forward looking statements.
The Company does not undertake any obligation to release publicly any revisions to any "forward-looking statements" to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this announcement, or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as may be required under the applicable securities laws.