Archive for the ‘Banking/Financial Services’ Category

Dragonfly Fintech named finalist for the G20 TechSprint 2022 CBDC Challenge

SINGAPORE, June 20, 2022 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Dragonfly has won a place in the final round of the third G20 TechSprint global challenge. This year’s challenge focuses on central bank digital currency (CBDC) following Saudi’s 2020 RegTech and SupTech, and Italy’s 2021 Green Finance. This year’s competition is held as part of Indonesia’s G20 presidency which will culminate in the G20 Heads of State and Government Summit to be held in Bali in November 2022.

Dragonfly Fintech is an innovative fintech solution provider utilizing its proprietary blockchain platform to address clients’ unmet digital needs in the banking and capital markets, advancing the nascent neobanking industry globally. Tomorrow’s banking is here!

The G20 TechSprint global competition which is jointly organized by Bank Indonesia and Bank of International Settlement Innovation Hub focuses on the development and showcasing of retail and wholesale CBDC as a viable solution in three core areas: issuance, wholesale, retail, and distribution of CBDC; financial inclusion through the use of CBDC; and CBDC as an improved means of interoperability among participating sovereign payment systems.

“We are honored that we have been chosen as a finalist in the issuance, wholesale, retail, and distribution of the CBDC segment. We are about serving the future unmet needs of the industry with innovative blockchain powered solutions. This growth opportunity allows us to illustrate how Dragonfly simplifies digital banking covering the entire spectrum from monetary policy making to wholesale, settlement, and retail distribution in an interoperable system,” comments Lon Wong, Founder and CEO of Singapore-based Dragonfly Fintech.

Dragonfly is also excited about the increased visibility on the world stage as a cutting-edge Asian fintech leader first conceptualized in 2015, and is rapidly expanding its footprint worldwide to engage and support other central banks in making their CBDC vision a reality.

About Dragonfly Fintech

Dragonfly Fintech is an innovative fintech solution provider utilizing the ProximaX blockchain protocol to address clients’ unmet digital needs in the banking and capital markets, advancing the nascent neobanking and CBDC globally. Tomorrow’s banking, today!

For more information, please visit www.dfintech.com

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Powertranz and Bluefin add support for MultiLink J.E.T.S. debit card in Jamaica

Bluefin and Powertranz, who already provide the first and only integrated self-service kiosks supporting MSR, EMV, NFC and PCI-validated P2PE in the Caribbean, can now support J.E.T.S. debit card

CaribPR Wire, Hamilton, Bermuda and Atlanta, GA, Thurs, June 9, 2022: Bluefin, the leading provider of data and payment security technologies including PCI-validated point-to-point encryption (P2PE) solutions, and Powertranz, the local leader in Card Present gateway/payment processing for the Caribbean, announced support of local Jamaican debit card, J.E.T.S., together with the first secure, self-integrated contactless kiosks with validated P2PE for the market.

The companies introduced the first self-integrated contactless kiosk solution for the Caribbean last year that includes Bluefin as the validated P2PE provider, PowerTranz as the Card Present gateway/payment processor, and NRT kiosks that utilize Advanced Mobile Payments’ 6500 unattended devices.

Bluefin, Powertranz and NRT teamed with acquirer Scotiabank to develop a solution for C&W Communications, the leading telecommunications and entertainment provider in the Caribbean, which included developing the payment application, integrating the device in the kiosk software, and certifying the device with Fiserv for Mastercard, VISA, Discover and AMEX.  C&W Communications operates over 100 NRT-Opal bill payment kiosks in 14 countries in the Caribbean.

Now the solution supports the J.E.T.S. MultiLink debit card in Jamaica, a critical part of the financial landscape. J.E.T.S. Limited is an electronic banking service company operating Jamaica’s national debit card network whose registered service brand is “MultiLink”.  All J.E.T.S. member institutions, as Issuers, offer their customers access to cash from their own accounts through the MultiLink Network whether at Automated Banking Machines or at Point of Sale terminals.  MultiLink supports over 1 million users who use it to draw more than $85 Billion per year.

“We are thrilled to support the Jamaican MultiLink debit card,” said Chris Burns, CEO of Powertranz. “This is a popular card in Jamaica and it was especially important for C&W to have a chip and pin solution to accept all card payments including the J.E.T.S. multilink debit card at the kiosks.”

C&W and its partners are deploying 50 self-service kiosks across Jamaica and Trinidad & Tobago, and will continue to deploy additional self-service kiosks across their respective Caribbean markets.

The solution will also support Trinidad and Tobago LINX debit cards later this month.  InfoLink Services, the LINX debit card switch operator, is a joint venture between the four major financial institutions in Trinidad and Tobago, and was created to provide a local debit card switching infrastructure. The LINX debit chip card is a co-branded LINX/Visa debit card.

Sherie Forden, Senior Manager, C&W B2C OMNI Channels Eco-Systems said: “We are excited about this partnership with Bluefin and Powertranz. Customers love the ease and convenience of paying via debit card and this initiative will enhance the self-serve experience for FLOW customers who use our kiosks for their Bill Payments and to Top Up their mobile phones.”

“The complexity of a multi-country adoption of a uniform payment solution which supports a transnational utility service provider, an international financial institution, a local-centric payment gateway & processor, and a global Payment Council Industry certified data security provider offers a best of breed partnership to bring integrated self-service kiosks supporting MSR, EMV, NFC and validated P2PE to the Caribbean market,” said Eldred F. Garcia, VP of Security Solutions, Bluefin. “We are very excited to bring the much-needed installation of self-serve kiosks backed by validated PCI-validated P2PE with the inclusion of local debit to this market.”

About Powertranz

Powertranz is a sophisticated Card Present payment platform provider that processes integrated Point of Sale transactions, including EMV and PCI Validated Point to Point Encryption (P2PE), in Bermuda and the Caribbean marketplace. Powertranz is the first provider of PCI Validated P2PE in the Caribbean via its partnership with Bluefin. The company is based in Bermuda, along with its sister company, First Atlantic Commerce. For more information, please visit https://firstatlanticcommerce.com/powertranz/.

About Bluefin

Bluefin is the recognized integrated payments leader in encryption and tokenization technologies that protect payments and sensitive data. The company’s product suite includes solutions for contactless, face-to-face, call center, mobile, Ecommerce and unattended payments and data in the healthcare, higher education, government, and nonprofit industries. The company’s 200 global partners serve 20,000 enterprise and software clients operating in 47 countries. For more information, visit https://www.bluefin.com/.

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Channel Capital Cayman granted ‘Companies Management License’ by the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority

GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands, June 7, 2022 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Channel Capital Cayman, an offshore governance services business based in the Cayman Islands is pleased to announce that it has been issued with a Companies Management License by the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority (CIMA) and it is now offering its investment fund fiduciary services to investment vehicles domiciled in the Cayman Islands.

Mark Cook, Executive Director, Channel Capital Cayman

Located in the Cayman Islands and UK, each member of Channel Capital Cayman acts as a fund director and is regulated by CIMA. The team of directors initially includes Mark Cook, Carl Brenton and Katherine Youhanna, and offers decades of professional governance experience to select fund boards.

The Cayman Islands is a world leader in the establishment of offshore investment funds due to its tax-neutrality, stable economy, sophisticated banking sector, and professional financial services industry. Approximately 70% of non-US domiciled alternative investment funds managed by US SEC-registered advisors are domiciled in the Cayman Islands.

Executive Director at Channel Capital Cayman, Mark Cook, said: “The Cayman Islands remains by far the most popular jurisdiction for global hedge, private equity and infrastructure funds. The Cayman Islands Government and CIMA have developed a strong regulatory framework for the investment funds industry, and we are confident that the Cayman Islands will continue to be a leading funds jurisdiction.”

“Having been involved in the industry since 2008, we know first-hand the vast range of compliance and governance issues boards have to navigate. The independent director services we provide allows for a flexible and tailored approach to fund governance through each stage of an investment fund’s life cycle. Our platform ensures necessary compliance with regulation is satisfied but with an emphasis on reducing the administrative burden faced by those in the fund governance space and we look forward to expanding our team of likeminded fund directors,” said Mr Cook.

About Channel Capital

Established in 2013, Channel has 47 employees across Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Grand Cayman, and currently partners with eight investment management firms. Channel provides incubation, distribution, operational and responsible entity services to a select group of investment management firms and their clients across the institutional, family office, high net worth and advisor-led investor space. Channel’s subsidiary entity, CIML, provides responsible entity services to a limited set of funds. https://www.channel.capital

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PopPay Platform Expands To Government-Backed Digital Currency

For First Time Ever, Consumers Can Use Their Face To Make Purchases With A Central Bank Digital Currency

PASADENA, Calif. and NASSAU, The Bahamas, May 19, 2022 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — PopID and SunCash announced today that for the first time in history, consumers can now use the PopPay face verification platform to purchase goods and services with a central bank digital currency (CBDC) – digital money issued and backed by a government. Bahamian consumers can now link their SunCash account to PopPay to enable face pay transactions using their Sand Dollars. They can then spend the digital currency at a network of SunCash merchants using just their face for authentication. Various local and global brands are or will be accepting digital Sand Dollars authenticated by PopPay through the SunCash platform.

“PopPay’s cutting edge technology provides a more consumer-friendly, seamless, and secure experience for SunCash’s users,” said Desmond Pyfrom, CEO of SunCash.  The existing apps for transacting in digital Sand Dollar generally require consumers’ use of smart phones, QR codes, or various other codes to complete a transaction at the point of sale. “With the integration of the PopPay platform into the SunCash App, Bahamian consumers can now quickly, efficiently, and safely use the digital Sand Dollar to purchase food and other products even if the consumer does not have a functional smart phone or an internet connection,” said Pyfrom, as is the case for thousands of Bahamians.1

The world is quickly moving towards central bank digital currencies—accelerated by the Covid-19 pandemic and the growth of cryptocurrencies. As of 2022, fourteen countries have launched CBDCs, or are in advanced pilots, and approximately 90 countries, accounting for over ninety percent of global GDP, are considering issuing CBDCs, according to the Atlantic Council.

The Bahamas was the first country to launch a CBDC when it deployed the Sand Dollar nationwide in October 2020. As part of that program, a limited number of supervised financial institutions were authorized to sponsor a mobile payment wallet for the digital dollar of the Bahamas. SunCash was one of the supervised financial institutions approved by the Central Bank of The Bahamas.

“The PopPay platform is designed to allow consumers to link any payment method to their face, including credit cards, debit cards, direct bank transfers, stablecoins, and CBDCs,” said John Miller, CEO of PopID and Chairman of its holding company, Cali Group.  “With governments around the world increasingly implementing CBDCs to replace physical cash, PopPay serves the critical policy objective of ensuring that all people can transact with the currency.”

“We applaud SunCash for its deployment of this solution that allows Bahamians to transact in Sand Dollar using only their face,” said John Rolle, Governor of the Central Bank of The Bahamas. “Such security features are important to increasing personal comfort around the use of digital payments and advancing the Central Bank’s goal of increasing financial inclusion among all segments of our society.”

A face pay option is an important feature for any country with the goal of increasing financial inclusion with the adoption of a CBDC, as those that are unbanked, under-banked, or without smartphones or reliable internet tend to be the most vulnerable parts of society.

Keith Russell of AD+ECH GLOBAL facilitated the partnership between PopID and SunCash.

About PopID
PopID provides a comprehensive platform, PopPay, for revolutionizing digital interactions and payments using facial verification. PopPay gives consumers the option of identifying themselves in the most natural way possible – with their face – for ordering and payment – enabling more personalized, secure, and streamlined experiences. To learn more about PopPay, visit www.popid.com

About SunCash
SunCash is the largest digital payments, mobile money, and e-commerce service provider in The Bahamas. SunCash’s proprietary technology provides financial solutions to all segments of society, including the banked, underbanked, and un-banked Bahamians, as well as non-resident populations in The Bahamas. SunCash has over 55,000 active wallet customers, accounting for approximately 1/7th of the total population of The Bahamas, and more than 1,000 merchants who accept SunCash payment solutions. Customers can also access SunCash services online, through the SunCash App, at local stores, or from more than 100 kiosk locations throughout The Bahamas. SunCash is licensed by both the Central Bank and Securities Commission of The Bahamas. To learn more about SunCash, visit www.mysuncash.com

1 Simon Kemp, “Digital 2022: The Bahamas” (Kepios 2022), https://datareportal.com/reports/digital-2022-bahamas.

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Vantage and McLaren MX Extreme E Team launches Mother’s Day Campaign featuring McLaren’s first female driver

SINGAPORE, May 6, 2022 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ – Vantage, the international multi-asset broker, together with McLaren MX Extreme E Team, has unveiled its latest Mother’s Day video campaign celebrating the supportive female role models who helped to shape McLaren’s first female driver, Emma Gilmour.

The video features New Zealand-born Gilmour, and pays tribute to her mother who made her journey easier.

From being the first and only woman to date to win a Rally World Championship event in 2016, to becoming McLaren Racing’s first female driver competing in the Extreme E championship series, Gilmour is fully cognisant of her position as a female role model in a male-dominated world, and credits her mother’s unwavering support for her success.

“My mother has been one of my biggest supporters,” says Gilmour. “She was there for all of my accomplishments, and my disappointments. She encouraged me to pursue my dreams and helped me to achieve them in every way she could. On this day and every day, I thank her for all her unlimited love and support.”

“In our pursuit for an ideal future, women have always been the most crucial piece of the puzzle. This is our small way of showing our appreciation for the most important women in our lives – our mothers,” says Marc Despallieres, Chief Strategy and Trading Officer, Vantage.

Despallieres explains that the multi-year partnership between Vantage and McLaren MX Extreme E Team was cemented on the shared values of sustainability and diversity, as well as gender equality, inclusion and representation, all while championing for and advocating climate change awareness.

“At Vantage, we have remained steadfast in our commitment to supporting, educating, and empowering the women among us, and we desire to continue to do so for the long term.”

About Vantage

Vantage is a global, multi-asset broker headquartered in Sydney, Australia. It offers clients access to a robust and efficient service for trading CFDs on Forex, Commodities, Indices, and Shares.

With more than 10 years of market experience, Vantage has built a global team with over 1,000 staff, spread over 30 offices located in APAC, Australasia, MENA, and the UK. It has built a reputation for delivering high standards of trading to clients of all sizes, by providing a trusted trading ecosystem that enables clients to achieve their own success, in a faster and simpler manner.

As a licensed and regulated entity in Australia, the UK, and the Cayman Islands, customer trust is of paramount importance. To safeguard clients’ interests, Vantage adopts a no-nonsense approach to compliance in all the markets they operate.

Vantage is more than just a broker. Its human-centric service seamlessly connects clients – from the individual to the institutional – to the right tools, resources, and support.

Be empowered to better capitalise on winning market opportunities when you
trade smarter @vantage.

About McLaren Racing

McLaren Racing was founded by New Zealand racing driver Bruce McLaren in 1963. The team entered its first Formula 1 race in 1966, since then McLaren has won 20 Formula 1 world championships, more than 180 Formula 1 grands prix, the Indianapolis 500 three times, and the Le Mans 24 Hours at its first attempt.

The team competes in the FIA Formula 1 World Championship with Lando Norris and Daniel Ricciardo, the NTT INDYCAR Series with Arrow McLaren SP drivers Pato O’Ward and Felix Rosenqvist, and the Extreme E Championship with Emma Gilmour and Tanner Foust.

McLaren was the first F1 team to be awarded the Carbon Trust Standard in 2010 and has retained it since on a bi-annual basis, most recently in February 2021. The team was also the first in F1 to be given the FIA Sustainability Accreditation Award at a three-star level in 2013 as part of the FIA Environmental Certification framework, before becoming a signatory to the UN Sports for Climate Action Commitment in 2021.

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Vantage wins Best Trading Services Provider APAC at the ADVFN International Financial Awards 2022

SINGAPORE, March 22, 2022 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ – Vantage, the international multi-asset broker, announces today that it has been selected as the “Best Trading Services Provider APAC (Asia-Pacific)” at the ADVFN International Financial Awards 2022.

The panel-judged awards – now in their eighth year – recognises and celebrates the best of breed products and services from across both the traditional financial and Fintech industries.

“We are honoured to receive this award at the ADVFN International Financial Awards 2022,” said Marc Despallieres, Chief Strategy Officer, Vantage. “This is truly a validation of our efforts as we continue to innovate and build our presence in the APAC region, providing a best-in-class trading ecosystem for our clients.”

“Vantage has been operating in the APAC region for some years now, but with the growing sophistication and higher expectations among our clients, we knew we could not be complacent.”

“Instead, we’ve continued our work in emerging markets, improving our clients’ user journeys, providing the tools necessary for an ultra-smooth execution, expanding our operating regions to reach underserved clients, and growing our product offerings while maintaining our low trading fees to suit clients’ trading needs.”

“I would like to take this opportunity to offer my heartfelt thanks to our team for their hard work, as well as our clients for their unwavering support for Vantage.”

This is the second major accolade Vantage has received in the APAC region, since its major rebranding exercise in 2021. Vantage was earlier recognized at the Transform Awards Asia 2021 – an APAC awards programme that recognises excellence and innovation in brand development.

At Transform Awards Asia, Vantage received the “Best brand development project to reflect changed mission, values or positioning” and “Best visual identity from the financial services sector” awards.

About Vantage

Vantage is a global, multi-asset broker offering clients access to a nimble and powerful service for trading CFDs on Forex, Commodities, Indices, and Shares.

With more than 10 years of market experience. Vantage now has over 1,000 employees/personnel across more than 30 global offices.

Vantage is more than a broker. It provides a trusted trading ecosystem and a faster and simpler trading platform that enables clients to take advantage of trading opportunities.

Be empowered to trade on market opportunities when you
trade smarter @vantage.

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Mastercard And GCS International Strengthen Their Alliance To Build Financial Inclusion In Jamaica

CARIBPR Wire, Kingston, Jamaica, Mon. February 7, 2022: Mastercard and GCS International, a leading regional fintech based in the Dominican Republic, today extended their partnership to develop and deliver digital payments solutions to underserved consumers across the Caribbean. This partnership builds on the collaborative work already underway in the Dominican Republic and expands to include solutions in Jamaica.

The partnership will strengthen the economic growth potential in the Caribbean, providing the underserved population with a simple and secure real-time payment solution. Financial institutions will be provided with a white label mobile wallet solution, including Mastercard prepaid cards for international use, providing end users with innovative and enhanced payment options in line with market trends. The initiative demonstrates how technology can be harnessed to accelerate financial inclusion and give people more control, better banking experiences, and a wider range of payment choices.

During the signing of the agreement, Carlo Enrico, president of Mastercard’s Latin America and Caribbean region, highlighted: “Mastercard is committed to delivering a digital economy that works for all. As the fintech landscape evolves at an unprecedented speed, Mastercard provides the infrastructure and assets to help fintechs grow and attract more people to the digital economy. We look forward to collaborating with the GCS International team through this next stage of growth and provide the solutions that will drive financial inclusion at scale.”

At the same time, Brian Paniagua, CEO of GCS International expressed: “Our company has provided friction-less PFM (personal finance management) tools and solutions to consumers creating value for individuals and their societies in Guatemala and the Dominican Republic, and in the near future, Jamaica. This strategic alliance with Mastercard is a natural evolution in the industry goal towards achieving the financial inclusion of more countries in the Caribbean and capitalizes on GCS’ proven track record ability to apply leading technology to the financial industry in benefit of those who need it most. We look forward to expand this alliance in a near future to other countries in Central America as well.”

GCS International is a leading fintech in the Dominican Republic specialized in cutting-edge technology within the payments industry, focused on the development of mobile solutions key to people’s needs such as transfers between accounts, payment of basic services, loan payments, among others.

Mastercard will continue to advance equitable and sustainable economic growth and financial inclusion around the world through a broad range of efforts. Last year, the company announced the expansion of its worldwide commitment to financial inclusion by pledging to bring a total of 1 billion people and 50 million micro and small businesses into the digital economy by 2025.

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About Mastercard (NYSE:MA)

Mastercard is a global technology company in the payments industry. Our mission is to connect and power an inclusive, digital economy that benefits everyone, everywhere by making transactions safe, simple, smart and accessible. Using secure data and networks, partnerships and passion, our innovations and solutions help individuals, financial institutions, governments and businesses realize their greatest potential. Our decency quotient, or DQ, drives our culture and everything we do inside and outside of our company. With connections across more than 210 countries and territories, we are building a sustainable world that unlocks priceless possibilities for all. www.mastercard.com.

About GCS International

GCS International is a FinTech committed to promoting digital transformation in Latin America and the adoption of new alternative channels, promoting greater access to financial services through innovative digital technologies. They believe in generating a positive social impact that meets high social, environmental and community standards by providing new platforms for inclusion and prosperity.

www.gcs-international.com

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CAPTION: L – r: Brian Paniagua, CEO of GCS International; Carlo Enrico, president of Mastercard for Latin America and the Caribbean; Marcelo Tangioni, Caribbean Division President, Mastercard.

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Nuvei Announces Partnership with FTX to Provide Instant Payment Solutions on One of the World’s Largest Digital Currency Exchanges

CaribPR Wire, MONTREAL and Saint John’s, Antigua and Barbuda, Dec. 14, 2021: Nuvei Corporation (“Nuvei” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: NVEI) (TSX: NVEI), the global payment technology partner of thriving brands, announced today it has entered into a partnership with FTX Trading LTD (”FTX”), owner and operator of FTX.COM, a leading global cryptocurrency exchange. This partnership with Nuvei will enable FTX to provide its users instant payment solutions for an enhanced customer journey and experience.

Through this collaboration, FTX can now offer users access to Nuvei’s innovative payment solutions that significantly improves the user journey, enabling instant deposits that support high value transactions. This in return will help FTX’s users to buy cryptocurrencies faster and in a more secured way.

“Our partnership with FTX demonstrates Nuvei’s leadership in the growing cryptocurrency vertical and shows our ability to provide innovative solutions for customers of all types around the world,” said Philip Fayer, Nuvei’s Chair and CEO. “FTX is one of the world’s largest digital currency exchanges, and we are thrilled to partner with them to help simplify the transaction experience for their customers and speed processing times. Together, we will provide instant payment deposits, supporting the higher value transactions that are often required in cryptocurrency trading. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with FTX and to expand the partnership to provide more APMs and enable payouts, bringing the latest innovations to their payment capabilities.”

“We want our users to have a frictionless experience and be able to convert from fiat to crypto and back seamlessly. We are thrilled to partner with an innovative company like Nuvei to provide a reliable payment on and off-ramp for our users,” said Sam Bankman-Fried, founder and CEO of FTX.

About Nuvei

We are Nuvei (Nasdaq: NVEI) (TSX: NVEI) the global payment technology partner of thriving brands. We provide the intelligence and technology businesses need to succeed locally and globally, through one integration – propelling them further, faster. Uniting payment technology and consulting, we help businesses remove payment barriers, optimize operating costs and increase acceptance rates. Our proprietary platform provides seamless pay-in and payout capabilities, connecting merchants with their customers in over 200 markets worldwide, with local acquiring in 45 markets. With support for over 500 local and alternative payment methods, nearly 150 currencies and 40 cryptocurrencies, merchants can capture every payment opportunity that comes their way. Our purpose is to make our world a local marketplace.

For more information, visit www.nuvei.com.

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Wazzcards Launches Free Financial Literacy Program Targeting Black, Indigenous And Low-Income Communities

The Virtual Classroom will be offered in the Caribbean and North America

For Immediate Release

CaribPR Wire, Toronto, ON, Mon. August 16, 2021: Wazzio Inc. launches its new Financial Literacy WazzCards pilot program on Monday August 16th, 2021, for students in grades 5 to 8 for a two-week period. WazzCards is a real-time virtual classroom tool with teacher certified curriculum that drives engagement, participation and learning in children while empowering parents and teachers to support students right when there is an issue.

“We want to ensure students – especially those identified as at-risk in Black, Indigenous and low-income families or situations – don’t fall further behind.  With the disruptions due to Covid-19 and now summer, it is even more critical to keep kids actively engaged in learning in a way that will bolster their education and spark their interest,” explains Wazzio CEO Cher Grant.

The Financial Literacy WazzCards classroom can be accessed via Zoom and there will be a total of 8 classes capped at 30 students each.

WazzCards is a multiple-choice deck content created by certified teachers that allows a real-time view of your virtual classroom and can also be used for in-class learning. Both ways offer a fun, engaging way for the teacher or parent to see how each child responds to and works with the selected deck’s questions without any lag time. WazzCards covers core curriculum subjects such as Math, Science, History and Language, however Cher’s push to have financial literacy at the forefront is a purposeful one.

“By including financial literacy in the WazzCard tool we have been able to provide a way for young learners to develop a foundational understanding of money and finance and for parents to practically prepare their children for a successful future by laying the groundwork for strong financial habits that will last them a lifetime,” Grant added.

Wazzio Inc. is also looking for volunteer Ontario Certified teachers to be a part of the pilot program. Click here for students or parents to book a financial literacy class.

For more info: wazzcards.com | Instagram | LinkedIn

Wazzio Inc was founded in 2013 with a commitment to facilitate ease of access to the information and services people need and use in every facet of life, from business, social and leisure to education. Focusing on mobile technology solutions, consumer solutions and EdTech, Wazzio simplifies the process of consuming, sharing and learning anytime, anywhere.  Wazzio Inc. is certified by Women Business Enterprises Canada (WBE Canada) and conducts business in Canada and the United States.

To Book Interviews with Wazzio CEO Cher Grant Contact:

Janice James-Brown |FKB Media Solutions | [email protected]


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RBC invites participants around the world to experience reimagined, virtual Race for the Kids event

A new mobile app will keep participants connected as they run, walk, or roll in support of 35 youth-focused charities in 19 countries

TORONTO, Aug. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ – Due to the ongoing impacts of COVID-19, RBC Race for the Kids will return in its global, virtual format for an event weekend on October 16-17, 2021. Today, RBC opened registration for the event weekend and announced plans for its reimagined, virtual participant experience with a new mobile app.

RBC Race for the Kids wordmark and screenshots of the new mobile app

At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, RBC proactively pivoted its long-running RBC Race for the Kids event series to a global, virtual format – ensuring it could continue to support young people around the globe while facing necessary restrictions for public gatherings. As a result, $8.8 million was raised by over 33,000 participants in 2020, benefiting dozens of youth-focused charity partners whose supports and services were needed more than ever.

Through the mobile app, participants can stay connected and competitive

A new way to race
RBC Race for the Kids is open to all, regardless of geography, age, or fitness ability. Participants can register for free on rbcraceforthekids.com – an integrated registration and fundraising platform providing a seamless experience.

New for 2021, RBC Race for the Kids participants will experience the event weekend through a mobile app. After registering, participants can download the app to begin engaging with its many exciting, interactive features, including:

  • Selecting a pre-determined distance to complete in their local community (with no set routes). Based on their chosen distance, the app will share a series of audio cues during the event to encourage and excite participants towards their personal finish line.
  • Choosing the most convenient method of recording their activity: through the integrated, in-app tracker or by linking to a wearable fitness device.
  • Tracking training kilometers/miles, competing against individuals or teams to climb leaderboards, and following their peers’ training activity.
  • Recording their event performance and sharing their route map/photos within the app event feed –or posting to their personal social media channels.
  • Unlocking the app’s augmented-reality lens to use face filters and digital medals during and after completing their event – which can also be posted to their personal social media channels.

Participants are encouraged to complete their run, walk, or roll independently or with family members and friends, while observing local public health advice and government guidelines.

Support youth from wherever you are
Regardless of where participants are physically located, they can choose to support any of the 35 participating charity partners during their registration process. Located around the globe, all participating partners offer critical supports and services for youth in their local communities.

RBC Race for the Kids’ 2021 partners include:

Prior to 2020, RBC Race for the Kids events took place in 17 physical locations, including: Bahamas, Barbados, Calgary, Chicago, Hong Kong, Jersey, Kuala Lumpur, London, Montreal, New York, Ottawa, Seattle, St. Paul, Sydney, Toronto, Trinidad & Tobago, and Vancouver. To date, the series has seen over 290,000 participants who have collectively raised more than $65 million.

In addition to continuing to host RBC Race for the Kids, RBC has committed $13 million to date towards food security, mental health, and strategic preparedness in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, RBC aligned more than $140 million in donations to its strategic priority pillars, directing funds to local community organizations and causes in the places where it operates.

To learn more about RBC Race for the Kids, its charity partners, or the virtual event experience, visit: rbcraceforthekids.com.

About RBC
Royal Bank of Canada is a global financial institution with a purpose-driven, principles-led approach to delivering leading performance. Our success comes from the 86,000+ employees who leverage their imaginations and insights to bring our vision, values and strategy to life so we can help our clients thrive and communities prosper. As Canada’s biggest bank, and one of the largest in the world based on market capitalization, we have a diversified business model with a focus on innovation and providing exceptional experiences to our 17 million clients in Canada, the U.S. and 27 other countries. Learn more at rbc.com.‎

We are proud to support a broad range of community initiatives through donations, community investments and employee volunteer activities. See how at rbc.com/community-social-impact.

RBC

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PaySett Corporation expands its regional payments partnership with Republic Financial Holdings Limited.

PaySett’s market proven PayBank® and PayCorp® payment solutions will provide key infrastructure to support the bank’s Caribbean expansion.

ATLANTA and PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad and Tobago, Aug. 10, 2021 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ – PaySett Corporation a global provider of ePayment solutions and Republic Financial Holdings Limited (RFHL) announced today an expansion of their partnership to include RFHL’s subsidiaries in the Eastern Caribbean and Sint Maarten. The partnership is expected to continue to increase electronic payments adoption in the region.

Nigel M. Baptiste, President of Republic Financial Holdings Limited.

PaySett’s CEO Benny Cooley commented, “Global and Regional financial institutions like RFHL are leading the way in financial services by standardizing payment software processing across multiple regions.  PaySett provides software products PayBank® and PayCorp® to standardize electronic payment processing for regional banks utilizing the bank’s own internal cloud infrastructure environment. This allows a financial institution to better manage operational costs and to streamline the movement of money throughout its organization for their clients.”  PayBank® and PayCorp® are part of a suite of products from PaySett that allows for the processing of consumer, corporate, and government payments in a real time or batch environments. According to Mr. Cooley, “We have been collaborating with RFHL for over a decade bringing innovation to the payments space and we are very excited about further collaboration in the Caribbean region.”

Nigel M. Baptiste, President of Republic Financial Holdings Limited stated that “PaySett’s suite of products will provide the wider RFHL Group with a world class, secure, payment processing infrastructure which will enhance the speed and efficiency of our service to our many clients, including those in the Eastern Caribbean and Sint Maarten.”

About PaySett Corporation

Atlanta, Georgia based PaySett Corporation is a global provider of payment software solutions in twenty countries. PaySett provides products/services to assist global financial entities to effectively manage the way money moves throughout their organizations and for their customers. PaySett’s two decades of experience moving payments through national and international payment networks has allowed for the development of advanced payment software for assisting global banks with the capability to enhance their regional and global payment network processing capabilities.  Twelve of the top twenty global banks process payments through PaySett software.

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Mastercard And LATAM Airlines Group Sign Partnership Agreement To Enhance The Travel Experience

MIAMI and SANTIAGO, Chile, June 23, 2021 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ – Mastercard and LATAM Airlines Group announced today they have signed a seven-year agreement that seeks to enhance the travel experience for passengers around the world. As part of the agreement, the companies will introduce new credit card solutions and benefits that meet the evolving needs of frequent travelers—digitizing the travel experience with personalized, contactless, and secure technologies—and consists of two implementation phases.  The first, which begins today, expands the benefits of LATAM Pass credit cards in Chile, Argentina, Brazil and Ecuador. The second phase will begin later this year and will include other relevant markets within Latin America.

Mastercard & LATAM Airlines Group

For several years, Mastercard and LATAM Pass, the most relevant frequent flyer program in Latin America, have collaborated with issuing banks to introduce co-branded credit cards and benefits to their loyal customers when flying to more than 115 destinations within the LATAM network.

“Many industries, including travel, are accelerating their digital transformation to deliver innovations across consumer touch points,” said Kiki del Valle, executive vice president of Market Development for Latin America and the Caribbean for Mastercard. “With our data analytics and ability to continuously adjust to consumer trends and market forces, we are excited to innovate in the travel space together with the LATAM Airlines Group team, which is equally passionate about evolving the travel experience for the digitally connected traveler.”

LATAM Pass VP Ralph Piket noted that, “we are sure that the partnership agreement with Mastercard will allow us to not only further accelerate our innovation, but also to improve the travel experience of our customers. As we know, the future of the airline industry is essentially being digital and seamless, and LATAM is working in that regard. In this context, the partnership with Mastercard is a very relevant step on that path and adds to the launch of our e-business unit last year.”

Both parties will begin work on the launch of new benefits and new Mastercard LATAM Pass programs, offering more mileage accrual and redemption alternatives in both travel and partner merchants, which will be communicated as soon as they are available.

About Mastercard (NYSE: MA)
Mastercard is a global technology company in the payments industry. Our mission is to connect and power an inclusive, digital economy that benefits everyone, everywhere by making transactions safe, simple, smart and accessible. Using secure data and networks, partnerships and passion, our innovations and solutions help individuals, financial institutions, governments, and businesses realize their greatest potential. Our decency quotient, or DQ, drives our culture and everything we do inside and outside of our company. With connections across more than 210 countries and territories, we are building a sustainable world that unlocks priceless possibilities for all.
www.mastercard.com

About LATAM
LATAM is the principal group of airlines in Latin America present in five domestic markets in the region: Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru, in addition to international operations inside Latin America and between it and Europe, the United States, and the Caribbean.
The group has a fleet of Boeing 767, 777, 787, Airbus A321, A320, A320neo and A319 aircraft.
LATAM Cargo Chile, LATAM Cargo Colombia, and LATAM Cargo Brazil are the LATAM Airlines freight subsidiaries. In addition to having access to the passenger cargo holds of LATAM Airlines Group, they have a fleet of 11 freighters, which will gradually increase to a total of up to 21 freighters by 2023.
They operate on the LATAM Group network as well as International routes that are solely used for shipping. They offer modern Infrastructure, a wide variety of services and protection options to meet all customer needs.
For press inquiries write to comunicaciones.externas@ latam.com . More financial information is available at www.latamairlinesgroup.net
www.latam.com

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Channel Capital Cayman adds new Director to its Governance Team

SYDNEY and GEORGE TOWN, Grand Cayman, June 23, 2021 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Channel Capital Cayman, a subsidiary company of Channel Capital Group (Channel), today announced the expansion of its Cayman team with the appointment of Carl Brenton as Director.

Carl Brenton, Director, Channel Capital Cayman

Channel Capital Cayman provides a high quality governance framework service to investment funds domiciled in the United States, Cayman Islands and other offshore financial centres. The business was established to leverage the deep and specialised experience of its team, and to provide ongoing compliance with regulatory obligations through a trusted and highly personalised independent director service.

As an experienced independent director, Carl has been providing fund governance and related services to a variety of offshore investment funds since 2016. Prior to joining Channel Capital Cayman, Carl served as the Head of Fund Services at both Catalyst Fund Administration and Intertrust Corporate Services where he oversaw the groups’ fund administration business in the Cayman Islands. Carl was a senior manager at Citco Fund Services (Cayman Islands) from 2005 to 2016 after working as a financial controller and public accountant since 1996.

The Cayman Islands is a world leader in the establishment of offshore funds due to its tax-neutrality, stable economy, sophisticated banking sector and professional financial service industry. Approximately 70% of non-US domiciled alternative investment funds managed by US SEC-registered advisors are domiciled in the Cayman Islands.

“We are pleased to have Carl join the business” said Mark Cook, Executive Director, Channel Capital Cayman. “Carl is very experienced in the alternative funds environment. He will add depth to our governance platform and will work closely with our clients to help them navigate the ever-changing and complex regulatory environment.”

Director at Channel Capital Cayman, Carl Brenton, said: “I am very pleased to be joining Mark and the rest of the Channel team. Mark and I previously worked together from 2005-2008 and it’s great to have the opportunity to join forces again. We are looking forward to leveraging off the strengths of the broader Channel Capital team to grow the business here in Cayman.”

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About Channel Capital

Established in 2013, the Channel Capital Group has 32 employees across Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, New York and Grand Cayman, and currently partners with ten investment management firms. Channel provides incubation, distribution, operational and responsible entity services to a select group of global investment management firms. The Group comprises subsidiary companies; Channel Investment Management Limited, Channel Capital Cayman, and Eolas Capital LLC. Channel Capital is supported by financial partner, Kudu Investment Management LLC. https://www.channel.capital

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Hamilton Reserve Bank, Hometown Bank of Alexander Hamilton, Exclusively Sponsors Nevis Kite Flying Competition on Good Friday

JESSUPS ESTATE, Nevis, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — HAMILTON RESERVE BANK (www.hrbank.com), the hometown bank of Alexander Hamilton, announces exclusive sponsorship of the annual Nevis Kite flying competition in the Covid-free Nevis, organized by the Nevis Island Administration (NIA) government.

Hamilton Reserve Bank lends its support to the local community as part of the Bank’s longstanding Diversity and Community Enrichment program.

The Nevis Kite Flying event will take place on Good Friday, April 2nd. Historically, many residents and families participate in the annual event. During the Covid pandemic, St. Kitts & Nevis has maintained Covid-free due to prudent government policies.

Hamilton Reserve Bank combines powerful modern banking with the cherished values of Alexander Hamilton, a Founding Father of America. As the largest global bank in the entire region with worldwide customers, Hamilton Reserve Bank has a “fortress” balance sheet, pristine regulatory history, and a rapidly expanding customer base from more than 150 countries, delivering efficient services in 10 different currencies to clients that include large institutions, individuals, businesses, and ultra-high-net-worth family offices seeking reliable banking and investment solutions.

About HAMILTON RESERVE BANK

HAMILTON RESERVE BANK (www.hrbank.com) is a fully regulated global bank (SWIFT: NIBTKNNE) with a deep British heritage. Powered by advanced modern banking technology, the Bank offers personal banking, business banking, and investment solutions in 10 different currencies across 150+ countries, serving a large, rapidly expanding worldwide clientele. The Bank has a “fortress” balance sheet, zero customer loan exposure, pristine compliance history, an exceptional CET1 capital ratio, strong customer privacy protection, speedy client onboarding, and 24/7 mobile banking. The Bank’s independent asset management affiliate is regulated by the U.S. SEC, which advises the Morningstar 5-Star rated, New York Stock Exchange listed Volshares Large Cap ETF (NYSE stock symbol: VSL), a top 1% performer three years in a row. Hamilton Reserve Bank engages in four areas: Banking, Trust & Escrow, Capital Markets, and Asset Management. Headquartered on a large bank compound at the Hamilton Reserve Bank Plaza in St. Kitts & Nevis, Alexander Hamilton’s birthplace and a thriving British Commonwealth nation, Hamilton Reserve Bank is the largest global bank in the region, maintaining worldwide offices and global customer support.

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Hamilton Reserve Bank, Formerly Nevis International Bank & Trust, Completes Rebranding as A Leading Bank in the Hometown of Alexander Hamilton

NEW YORK and ST. KITTS AND NEVIS, March 22, 2021 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ – HAMILTON RESERVE BANK (www.hrbank.com), formerly Nevis International Bank & Trust, announces the completion of the Bank’s rebranding as the leading hometown bank of Alexander Hamilton, a Founding Father of America. Hamilton Reserve Bank combines powerful modern banking services with the legacy of Alexander Hamilton.

Hamilton Reserve Bank Logo

Hamilton Reserve Bank is the largest global bank in the region with worldwide offices and customers. The Bank’s rebranding reflects its global presence, “fortress” balance sheet, and rapidly expanding customer base from more than 150 countries. The Bank’s operations, compliance, control, and SWIFT code NIBTKNNE remain the same.

Hamilton Reserve Bank offers white glove banking solutions in 10 different currencies to a worldwide clientele of large institutions, individuals, businesses, and ultra-high-net-worth family offices seeking reliable, holistic, and efficient international banking and investment solutions. Certified annually by Grant Thornton, the Bank’s auditor, Hamilton Reserve Bank maintains a pristine regulatory history and is committed to a best practices approach in all aspects of its business.

About HAMILTON RESERVE BANK

HAMILTON RESERVE BANK (www.hrbank.com) is a fully regulated global bank (SWIFT: NIBTKNNE) with a deep British heritage. Powered by advanced modern banking technology, the Bank offers personal banking, business banking, and investment solutions in 10 different currencies across 150+ countries, serving a large, rapidly expanding worldwide clientele. The Bank has a “fortress” balance sheet, zero customer loan exposure, pristine compliance history, an exceptional CET1 capital ratio, strong customer privacy protection, speedy client onboarding, and 24/7 mobile banking. The Bank’s independent asset management affiliate is regulated by the U.S. SEC, which advises the Morningstar 5-Star rated, New York Stock Exchange listed Volshares Large Cap ETF (NYSE stock symbol: VSL), a top 1% performer three years in a row. Hamilton Reserve Bank engages in four areas: Banking, Trust & Escrow, Capital Markets, and Asset Management. Headquartered on a large bank compound at the Hamilton Reserve Bank Plaza in St. Kitts & Nevis, Alexander Hamilton’s birthplace and a thriving British Commonwealth nation, Hamilton Reserve Bank is the largest global bank in the region, maintaining worldwide offices and global customer support.

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Scotiabank joins Mastercard in the launch of the Priceless Planet Coalition in the Caribbean

Priceless Planet Coalition global pledge is to plant 100 million trees in five years

CaribPR Wire, Thurs. March 18th, 2021 Scotiabank joins Mastercard on the expansion of the Priceless Planet Coalition to generate climate change awareness and impact across four Caribbean countries: Jamaica, Barbados, The Bahamas and the Dominican Republic. As part of the launch of this initiative, Scotiabank cardholders can contribute to different forestation initiatives through online purchases made with their ScotiaCard.

This global coalition unites the efforts of merchants, banks, cities and consumers to make meaningful investments to preserve the environment through the restoration of 100 million trees over five years, together with forestry experts from Conservation International and World Resources Institute. Other participating members are Transport for London and American Airlines, among others around the world, all of which are investing in innovative ways to inspire collective actions to address climate change. In the Caribbean, a place where climate change further impacts the effects of devastating hurricanes, Scotiabank has pioneered several initiatives to reduce Carbon emissions.

The current pandemic has underscored how interconnected our world has become, and that the health and well-being of our planet is deeply linked to that of our people. Together, Mastercard and Scotiabank are taking action now to combat global warming. Until April 22, current and new Bank cardholders in Jamaica can contribute to planting a tree for every five online purchases of J$4350 or more. The goal is to plant a total of 75,000 trees, based on purchases made in Jamaica, Barbados, The Bahamas and the Dominican Republic.

“Scotiabank is guided by our purpose: “for every future”. We recognize that climate change is one of the most pressing issues of our time, and through our Climate Commitments, we are dedicated to supporting actions that address this challenge through our banking operations,” said Anya Schnoor, Executive Vice President of Scotiabank in the Caribbean, Central America and Uruguay. “As a leading Bank in the Americas, collaboration with other organizations is crucial for effective climate action. The Priceless Planet Coalition provides an opportunity for us to work alongside Mastercard to help make an impact and enables our customers in the Caribbean to be part of a very practical and tangible climate solution,” she added.

Climate change affects us all. In the Caribbean, the negative impact of extreme weather conditions on sectors such as agriculture and tourism can be significant. Reforestation has a direct and measurable impact on the environment.

“Mastercard is committed to protect the environment in every continent where it operates, and here in the Caribbean, where the weather is sometimes extremely punishing, suffering from very destructive hurricanes; we truly believe in our efforts on restoring the rainforests and the landscapes is a key element in the fight against climate change” said Marcelo Tangioni, President of The Caribbean Division at Mastercard. Mr. Tangioni also added that “We are very glad to welcome Scotiabank joining the Priceless Planet Coalition, for this constant work against the clock and mostly, to rebuild ecosystems with the help of all the partners of the Coalition.”

The Priceless Planet Coalition aims to reinforce a restoration model that is not only focused on planting trees, but on re-growing forests for a positive climate, community, and biodiversity impact. To learn more about Priceless Planet Coalition, please visit www.PricelessPlanet.org and follow us on social media #pricelessplanet.

To know more about Mastercard Corporate Social Responsibility’s Report and all its social and environmental efforts around the World click here

About Mastercard, www.mastercard.com

Mastercard is a global technology company in the payments industry. Our mission is to connect and power an inclusive, digital economy that benefits everyone, everywhere by making transactions safe, simple, smart and accessible. Using secure data and networks, partnerships and passion, our innovations and solutions help individuals, financial institutions, governments and businesses realize their greatest potential. Our decency quotient, or DQ, drives our culture and everything we do inside and outside of our company. With connections across more than 210 countries and territories, we are building a sustainable world that unlocks priceless possibilities for all.

About Scotiabank

Scotiabank is a leading bank in the Americas. Guided by our purpose: “for every future”, we help our customers, their families and their communities achieve success through a broad range of advice, products and services, including personal and commercial banking, wealth management and private banking, corporate and investment banking, and capital markets. With a team of over 90,000 employees and assets of approximately $1.1 trillion (as at October 31, 2020), Scotiabank trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: BNS) and New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: BNS). For more information, please visit http://www.scotiabank.com and follow us on Twitter @ScotiabankViews.

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IBFD announces search for Caribbean authors and correspondents!

IBFD is looking to expand its network of international contributors and needs passionate tax specialists to share their expertise and insights with a global tax audience.

Join our network of international contributors
We look forward to working with you!

CARIBPR WIRE, AMSTERDAM, March 11, 2021: IBFD relies on knowledgeable and passionate contributors for each jurisdiction covered in the IBFD Tax Research Platform – the world’s most comprehensive collection of international tax information.

We require country survey authors and Tax News Service (TNS) correspondents specialized in Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, the BES Islands, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Cuba, Curaçao, Haiti, Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, the Turks and Caicos Islands and the US Virgin Islands.

Obtaining accurate, timely and relevant tax information in the Caribbean presents its own unique challenges, ranging from internet connectivity issues to limited access to online tax technical publications, but local tax specialists usually know the tips and tricks for obtaining the right information.

Authors are our lifeblood

A key component of IBFD’s Tax Research Platform is our collection of survey chapters for all countries in the world, including countries in the Caribbean. Authors play a vital role in ensuring that the country survey chapters contain accurate and timely information for IBFD subscribers with regard to corporate and individual taxation, as well as business and investment. Publication cycles vary, but survey chapters are generally updated once a year, preferably after major changes in legislation. Authors are paid for each survey based on the input further to a word count.

Correspondents keep on top of developments

Correspondents are responsible for preparing and submitting TNS reports when newsworthy items arise in the jurisdiction at hand, including budgets, legislation, tax rulings and cases. In essence, these are short newsflashes that are published daily on the IBFD Tax Research Platform, providing the essentials of important developments and key links, wherever possible, to the source or other government documents. Each report begins with the name and affiliation of the correspondent, which further increases your reach and reputation. You can also take on the role of an author. Correspondents are paid a fixed fee per report. The more active correspondents are, the higher the pay.

Benefits of joining IBFD

As an author or correspondent, you will be working alongside and sharing information with the most world-renowned authors on international tax.

Working with us stimulates you to stay on top of tax developments, provides marketing benefits for your practice, broadens your professional global network and provides access to the world’s most comprehensive cross-border tax database. Our correspondents find, almost universally, that the time and effort (small or large) they devote to writing for IBFD pay dividends many fold in the rest of their business.

Interested in joining IBFD?

If you would like more information about becoming an author or correspondent for IBFD, please contact us via email at [email protected] or visit https://www.ibfd.org/Authors-Correspondents/Write-us

If you would like a PDF of the press release, please contact Phil Windus, Senior Marketing Coordinator, at [email protected].

About IBFD

IBFD is a leading international provider of cross-border tax expertise, with a long-standing history of supporting and contributing to tax research and academic activities. As an independent foundation, IBFD utilizes its global network of tax experts and its Knowledge Centre to serve Fortune 500 companies, governments, international consultancy firms and tax advisers.

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¡IBFD anuncia búsqueda de autores y corresponsales en el Caribe!

IBFD espera expandir su red de colaboradores internacionales y necesita especialistas tributarios entusiastas para compartir su experiencia y perspectivas con una audiencia tributaria global.

Únase a nuestra red de colaboradores internacionales
¡Esperamos trabajar con usted!

CARIBPR WIRE, ÁMSTERDAM, March 11, 2021: IBFD cuenta con colaboradores conocedores y entusiastas para cada jurisdicción cubierta por la Plataforma de Investigación Tributaria de IBFD, la recopilación de información tributaria internacional más completa del mundo.

Necesitamos autores de encuesta de país y corresponsales del Servicio de Noticias Tributarias (TNS – Tax News Service) especializados en Anguila, Antigua y Barbuda, Barbados, Islas BES, Islas Vírgenes Británicas, Islas Caimán, Cuba, Curazao, Haití, Jamaica, San Cristóbal y Nieves, Islas Turcas y Caicos e Islas Vírgenes de Estados Unidos.

Obtener información tributaria precisa, oportuna y relevante en el Caribe representa sus propios desafíos únicos, que van desde problemas de conectividad a Internet hasta acceso limitado a publicaciones técnicas tributarias en línea, sin embargo, los especialistas tributarios locales, casi siempre conocen las recomendaciones y trucos para obtener la información apropiada.

Los autores son el alma de nuestra organización

Un componente clave de la Plataforma de Investigación Tributaria del IBFD es nuestra colección de capítulos de encuestas para todos los países del mundo, incluidos los países del Caribe. Los autores juegan un papel vital para garantizar que los capítulos de encuesta de país contengan información precisa y oportuna para los suscriptores de IBFD con relación a impuestos corporativos e individuales, así como negocios e inversiones. Los ciclos de publicación varían, sin embargo, los capítulos de encuesta, generalmente se actualizan una vez al año, preferiblemente después de cambios importantes en la legislación. Los autores ganan por cada encuesta en base a la contribución, además del conteo de palabras.

Los corresponsales se mantienen actualizados de los avances

Los corresponsales son responsables de preparar y presentar informes de TNS cuando surjan artículos de interés noticioso en la jurisdicción en cuestión, incluidos presupuestos, legislación, casos y resoluciones impositivas. En resumen, son breves noticiosos publicados diariamente en la Plataforma de Investigación Tributaria de IBFD, que ofrecen lo esencial de avances importantes y enlaces clave, siempre que sea posible, a la fuente u otros documentos gubernamentales. Cada informe comienza con el nombre y la afiliación del corresponsal, lo que aumenta aún más su alcance y reputación. También puede asumir el rol de autor. Los corresponsales ganan una tarifa fija por informe. Mientras más corresponsales activos, más alto el pago.

Beneficios de unirse a IBFD

Como autor o corresponsal, trabajará estrechamente y compartirá información con los autores de impuestos internacionales más reconocidos en el mundo.

Trabajar con nosotros le incentiva a mantenerse actualizado de los avances tributarios, le ofrece beneficios de marketing para su práctica, amplía su red global profesional y le ofrece acceso a la base de datos tributarios internacionales más completa del mundo. Nuestros corresponsales hallan, casi de modo universal, que el tiempo y el esfuerzo (pequeño o grande) que dedican a escribir para IBFD paga múltiples dividendos en el resto de su negocio.

¿Está interesado en unirse a IBFD?

Para obtener más información sobre cómo convertirse en autor o corresponsal de IBFD, comuníquese con [email protected] o visite https://www.ibfd.org/Authors-Correspondents/Write-us

Para obtener un PDF del comunicado de prensa , comuníquese con Phil Windus, coordinador sénior de marketing, en [email protected].

Acerca del IBFD

IBFD es un proveedor internacional líder de conocimientos tributarios internacionales, con una trayectoria comprobada de apoyo y colaboración con investigación tributaria y actividades académicas. El IBFD (International Bureau of Fiscal Documentation – Buró Internacional de Documentación Fiscal), como una fundación independiente utiliza su red global de especialistas tributarios y su Centro de Conocimientos para asistir a empresas Fortune 500, gobiernos, firmas de consultoría internacional y asesores fiscales.

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Channel Capital Launches Offshore Governance Services Business to Be Headed by Mark Cook

SYDNEY and GEORGE TOWN, Grand Cayman, Feb. 21, 2021 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Channel Capital Pty Ltd. (Channel), a leading Australian multi-affiliate investment management company servicing more than A$16 billion in assets, has established Channel Capital Cayman, an offshore governance services business based in the Cayman Islands.

Mark Cook, Executive Director, Channel Capital Cayman

Mark Cook, an experienced director for Cayman Islands and other offshore investment funds will lead the business, which will focus on establishing and operating investment funds domiciled in the United States, Cayman Islands and other offshore financial centres, as well as ensuring ongoing compliance with regulatory obligations including anti-money laundering and tax transparency.

Mark has worked with many globally recognized fund managers and financial institutions since arriving in the Cayman Islands in 2005. After qualifying as a chartered accountant in Australia and spending more than 10 years in public practice there, he obtained fund administration experience with Citco Fund Services in the Cayman Islands and since 2008 has been engaged as an investment fund director.

The Cayman Islands is a world leader in the establishment of offshore funds due to its tax-neutrality, stable economy, sophisticated banking sector, and professional financial service industry. Approximately 70% of non-US domiciled alternative investment funds managed by US SEC-registered advisors are domiciled in the Cayman Islands.

“We are thrilled to be partnering with Mark in the Cayman Islands” said Glen Holding, Channel’s co-founder and managing director. “We see this as a natural extension of the support and oversight we have traditionally offered to fund managers in Australia, and is consistent with our strategy to build out a global platform capable of supporting investment managers and their clients in all major jurisdictions”.

Executive Director at Channel Capital Cayman, Mark Cook, said: “The Cayman Islands remains by far the most popular jurisdiction for hedge, private equity and infrastructure funds. I’m really looking forward to working with the Channel team and leveraging the platform they have developed. I anticipate opportunities across the spectrum for straight governance services, or to more widely assist with an investment manager’s business needs”.

About Channel Capital

Established in 2013, Channel has 30 employees across Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne and Grand Cayman, and currently partners with eight investment management firms. Channel provides incubation, distribution, operational and responsible entity services to a select group of investment management firms and their clients across the institutional, family office, high net worth and advisor-led investor space. Channel’s subsidiary entity, CIML, provides responsible entity services to a limited set of funds. https://www.channel.capital

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Carson Wen Appealed to Privy Council in UK on Employment Dispute with Chad C. Holm

TORTOLA, British Virgin Islands, Dec. 10, 2020 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ – Carson Wen, Chairman of Sancus Group (”Sancus”), today provides a further update on the ongoing employment dispute with a former employee of Financial Holdings (BVI) Limited (”FHL”), a Special Purpose Vehicle (”SPV”) that was established by Sancus in 2015.

Mr. Wen obtained Final Leave from Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeal on 16 September 2020 to appeal to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (often referred to as the Privy Council) in the United Kingdom on the dispute with Chad C. Holm regarding a shareholding matter.

Mr. Wen has already filed the Notice of Appeal with the Privy Council, the final court of appeal for the British Virgin Islands and other Eastern Caribbean jurisdictions on 10 November 2020.

Meanwhile, in October 2016 FHL filed proceedings against Chad Holm and two co-Defendants for breach of contract, breach of trust and breach of fiduciary duties in the Hong Kong High Court. These legal proceedings are continuing. Mr. Wen was the CEO of Financial Holdings (BVI) Limited, which employed Chad Holm as Deputy CEO in October 2015.

Previous Statement from Mr. Wen on above dispute can be found at: Update from Carson Wen Ka-Shuen on Employment Dispute with Chad C. Holm.

Notes to editors

Carson Wen is the Founder of Bank of Asia (BVI) Limited and BOA Financial Group Limited. He is also the Chairman of the Sancus Group of companies, which has investments in policy driven sectors such as new energy, logistics, finance and technology. He has practiced law for over 30 years at his own Hong Kong partnership and subsequently at leading global law firms. Mr. Wen has been named as a leading adviser on Chinese law, mergers & acquisitions and capital markets work in Who’s Who of the Law, Asia Pacific Legal 500, AsiaLaw Leading Lawyers, Chambers Asia and China’s Top 200. He is also named in the International Who’s Who and Who’s Who of the World.

Mr. Wen is a Justice of the Peace of Hong Kong and held various public service appointments in Mainland China and Hong Kong.

Mr. Wen is a member of the Executive Committee of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) Sustainable Business Network (ESBN) and former Chairman of its Task Force on Green Business. He is also a Director of the Pacific Basin Economic Council. He is also, inter alia, a Founding Director of the China M&A Association.

Mr. Wen was awarded the Bronze Bauhinia Star (BBS) by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government for his contribution to economic ties between Hong Kong, Mainland China and the rest of the world.

Mr. Wen obtained his B.A. from Columbia University, where he majored in economics, and B.A. and M.A. from Balliol College, Oxford University, where he studied law and was Younger Prizeman in Law for 1976.

Sancus Group

Sancus Group, a private investment vehicle based in Hong Kong, was established in 2007. It has diverse business interests including new energy, logistics, finance and technology. The firm works closely with entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, private equity and other professional bodies to grasp global business opportunities. Leveraging its strong relationships in China and across the Asia Pacific, the firm see its role as catering to the needs of the developing world through focusing on necessities such as new energy, financial services and food.

Sancus Group is an indirect shareholder in Bank of Asia via Sancus Financial Holdings Limited. Bank of Asia (www.bankasia.com) is a fully digitalised global bank headquartered in the BVI.

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The Herzfeld Caribbean Basin Fund, Inc. Announces Quarterly Distribution and Results of 2020 Annual Stockholders Meeting

CaribPR Wire, MIAMI BEACH, Fla., Dec. 08, 2020: The Herzfeld Caribbean Basin Fund, Inc. (NASDAQ: CUBA) (the “Fund”) today announced its quarterly distribution pursuant to the Fund’s managed distribution policy (the “MDP”) and reported the results of its 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

Quarterly Distribution:

The Fund today declared the following distribution pursuant to the MDP:

Declaration Date Ex-Date Record Date Payment Date Per Share
12/08/2020 12/17/2020 12/18/2020 12/31/2020 $0.15525

The primary purpose of the MDP is to provide stockholders with a constant, but not guaranteed, fixed minimum rate of distribution each quarter (currently set at the annual rate of 15% of the Fund’s net asset value as determined on March 31, 2020 and payable in quarterly installments). The Fund cannot predict what effect, if any, the MDP will have on the market price of its shares or whether such market price will reflect a greater or lesser discount to net asset value as compared to prior to the adoption of the MDP. The quarterly distribution for the Fund’s second fiscal quarter constitutes the fifth consecutive quarterly distribution under the MDP.

The $0.15525 per share amount announced today reflects a distribution of 3.36% based upon the market price per share of the Fund and 2.64% based upon the net asset value per share of the Fund, each as of November 30, 2020. No conclusions should be drawn about the Fund’s investment performance from the amount of the Fund’s distributions or from the terms of the MDP.

Results of 2020 Annual Meeting:

In addition, the Fund held its annual stockholder meeting on November 12, 2020 (“Annual Meeting”). At the Annual Meeting, the Fund’s stockholders re-elected Mr. Thomas J. Herzfeld as Class III Director of the Fund, for a term of three years. Mr. Herzfeld is Chairman of the Fund’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) and President and Chairman of Thomas J. Herzfeld Advisors, Inc. (“THJA”), and a Portfolio Manager of the Fund.

Details regarding the Managed Distribution Policy:

Under the MDP, the Fund will distribute all available investment income to its stockholders, consistent with its investment objective and as required by the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). The amount distributed per share is subject to change at the discretion of the Board. If sufficient investment income is not available on a quarterly basis, the Fund will distribute long-term capital gains and/or return capital to its stockholders in order to maintain its managed distribution level. The Fund is currently not relying on any exemptive relief from Section 19(b) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”). The Fund may make additional distributions from time to time, including additional capital gain distributions at the end of the taxable year, if required to meet requirements imposed by the Code and/or the 1940 Act. Please note that for stockholders enrolled in the Fund’s Dividend Reinvestment Plan (“DRIP”), the distribution will be reinvested in additional shares of the Fund as described in the DRIP.

The Fund expects that distributions under the MDP will exceed investment income and available capital gains and thus expects that distributions under the MDP will likely include returns of capital for the foreseeable future. A return of capital may occur, for example, when some or all of a stockholder’s investment is paid back to the stockholder. A return of capital distribution does not necessarily reflect the Fund’s investment performance and should not be confused with ‘yield’ or ‘income.’ Any such returns of capital will decrease the Fund’s total assets and, therefore, could have the effect of increasing the Fund’s expense ratio. In addition, in order to maintain the level of distributions called for under its MDP, the Fund may have to sell portfolio securities at a less than opportune time.

The following table sets forth the estimated amounts of the current quarterly distribution and the cumulative distributions paid this fiscal year to date from the following sources: net investment income, net realized capital gains and return of capital. All amounts are expressed per common share.

Current Distribution % Breakdown of the Current Distribution Total Cumulative Distributions for the Fiscal Year to Date % Breakdown of the Total Cumulative
Distributions for the Fiscal Year to Date
Net Investment Income $0.00 0% $0.00 0%
Net Realized Short-Term Capital Gains $0.00 0% $0.00 0%
Net Realized Long-Term Capital Gains $0.00 0% $0.00 0%
Return of Capital $0.15525 100% $0.3105 100%
Total (per common share) $0.15525 100% $0.3105 100%

Average annual total return (in relation to NAV) for the 5-year period ending on November 30, 2020 3.09%
Annualized current distribution rate expressed as a percentage of NAV as of November 30, 2020 10.58%
Annualized current distribution rate expressed as a percentage of PRICE as of November 30, 2020 13.44%
Cumulative total return (in relation to NAV) for the fiscal year through November 30, 2020 27.32%
Cumulative fiscal year distributions as a percentage of NAV as of November 30, 2020 5.29%

No conclusions should be drawn about the Fund’s investment performance from the amount of the Fund’s distributions or from the terms of the MDP.

The amount distributed per share is subject to change at the discretion of the Board. The MDP is subject to ongoing review by the Board to determine whether it should be continued, modified or terminated. The Board may amend the terms of the MDP, suspend the MDP, or terminate the MDP at any time without prior notice to the Fund’s stockholders if it deems such actions to be in the best interest of the Fund or its stockholders. The amendment or termination of the MDP could have an adverse effect on the market price of the Fund’s shares.

With each distribution that does not consist solely of net investment income, the Fund will issue a notice to stockholders and an accompanying press release that will provide detailed information regarding the amount and composition of the distribution and other related information. The amounts and sources of distributions reported in the notice to stockholders are only estimates and are not being provided for tax reporting purposes. The actual amounts and sources of the amounts for tax reporting purposes will depend upon the Fund’s investment experience during its full fiscal year and may be subject to changes based on tax regulations. The Fund will send stockholders a Form 1099-DIV for the respective calendar year that will tell them how to report these distributions for federal income tax purposes. Stockholders should consult their tax advisor for proper tax treatment of the Fund’s distributions.

About Thomas J. Herzfeld Advisors, Inc.

TJHA, founded in 1984, is an SEC registered investment advisor, specializing in investment analysis and account management in closed-end funds. The Firm also specializes in investment in the Caribbean Basin. The HERZFELD/CUBA division of Thomas J. Herzfeld Advisors, Inc. serves as the investment advisor to The Herzfeld Caribbean Basin Fund, Inc. a publicly traded closed-end fund (NASDAQ: CUBA).

More information about the advisor can be found at www.herzfeld.com.

Past performance is no guarantee of future performance. An investment in the Fund is subject to certain risks, including market risk. In general, shares of closed-end funds often trade at a discount from their net asset value and at the time of sale may be trading on the exchange at a price which is more or less than the original purchase price or the net asset value. An investor should carefully consider the Fund’s investment objective, risks, charges and expenses. Please read the Fund’s disclosure documents before investing.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release, and other statements that Thomas J. Herzfeld Advisors, Inc. (TJHA”) or the Fund may make, may contain forward looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act, with respect to the Fund’s or TJHA’s future financial or business performance, strategies or expectations. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words or phrases such as “trend,” “potential,” “opportunity,” “pipeline,” “believe,” “comfortable,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “current,” “intention,” “estimate,” “position,” “assume,” “outlook,” “continue,” “remain,” “maintain,” “sustain,” “seek,” “achieve,” and similar expressions, or future or conditional verbs such as “will,” “would,” “should,” “could,” “may” or similar expressions. TJHA and the Fund caution that forward-looking statements are subject to numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties, which change over time. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and TJHA and the Fund assume no duty to and do not undertake to update forward-looking statements. Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in forward-looking statements and future results could differ materially from historical performance. With respect to the Fund, the following factors, among others, could cause actual events to differ materially from forward-looking statements or historical performance: (1) changes and volatility in political, economic or industry conditions, particularly with respect to Cuba and other Caribbean Basin countries, the interest rate environment, foreign exchange rates or financial and capital markets, which could result in changes in demand for the Fund or in the Fund’s net asset value; (2) the relative and absolute investment performance of the Fund and its investments; (3) the impact of increased competition; (4) the unfavorable resolution of any legal proceedings; (5) the extent and timing of any distributions or share repurchases; (6) the impact, extent and timing of technological changes; (7) the impact of legislative and regulatory actions and reforms, including the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, and regulatory, supervisory or enforcement actions of government agencies relating to the Fund or TJHA, as applicable; (8) terrorist activities, international hostilities and natural disasters, which may adversely affect the general economy, domestic and local financial and capital markets, specific industries or TJHA or the Fund; (9) TJHA’s and the Fund’s ability to attract and retain highly talented professionals; (10) the impact of TJHA electing to provide support to its products from time to time; and (11) the impact of problems at other financial institutions or the failure or negative performance of products at other financial institutions. Annual and Semi-Annual Reports and other regulatory filings of the Fund with the SEC are accessible on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov and on TJHA’s website at www.herzfeld.com/cuba, and may discuss these or other factors that affect the Fund. The information contained on TJHA’s website is not a part of this press release.

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