Tag Archives: FNT

Hong Kong Blockchain Week 2020: Setting DeFi and Blockchain Trends for 2021

November 17th to 19th 2020, speakers and participants will assess the economic and technological rollercoaster of the year 2020,and will discuss whether DeFi will change the game for fintech.

HONG KONG, Oct. 20, 2020 — During a week-long virtual event, speakers from institutions, businesses, regulatory bodies, innovative companies will evaluate the outcomes of 2020 for blockchain, technology and economy, and deliver valuable predictions about what will be trending in the nearest future. 

Hong Kong Blockchain Week 2020/Block O2O Global Virtual Summit 18 Nov
Hong Kong Blockchain Week 2020/Block O2O Global Virtual Summit 18 Nov

Hosted by The NexChange Group, Hong Kong Blockchain Week is co-organised by Hong Kong Cyberport, the main regional technology hub driving the innovation force and nurturing a growing digital community in Hong Kong.

"Blockchain technology has become more widely adopted and increasingly pivotal in various areas of application, such as the financial services industry. The recent Digital Currency Electronic Payment (DCEP) initiative by the People’s Bank of China has put Blockchain and Crypto back on the radar screen. Home to the largest FinTech community in Hong Kong with well over 300 FinTech start-ups and companies in the community, Cyberport is pleased to be powering Hong Kong Blockchain Week to examine the latest developments of blockchain and showcase Hong Kong’s capabilities in this area. Our goal is to draw blockchain talents together to exchange ideas, to co-create business opportunities as well as to lead the city in embracing blockchain," said Peter Yan, Chief Executive Officer of Cyberport.

Attendees will follow the experts’ discussions on such hot topics shaping the global agenda such as fintech, investment, and digital assets. Here, Dan Morehead, CEO of Pantera Capital, notes: "Digital assets have out-performed nearly all other asset classes year-to-date as unprecedented monetary and fiscal stimulus drive up the prices of things whose quantity cannot be eased. We strongly believe we are in the early stages of a large bull market fueled by both a powerful global macro tide and growing fundamentals in the underlying technology."

Quickly gaining traction, DeFi has become the center of attention throughout most of 2020. Decentralised Finance has undoubtedly disrupted the whole ecosystem of DLT-based financial services. From Yield Farming in trading, to DAOs and stablecoins, to NFTs (non fungible tokens) in asset tokenization and gamification, DeFi has shown interesting endless possibilities and applications which made it one of the hottest trends of the year. 

"With decentralization at its core the blockchain space was built for unprecedented times like these," said Justin Sun, Founder of TRON and CEO of BitTorrent. "The Crypto community has succeeded in rapidly pivoting to a virtual approach to conferences making it accessible to an even wider audience. I was looking forward to attending this year’s Hong Kong Blockchain Week, and hope to see you all there."

After the core event which is the Block O2O Global Virtual Summit set for November 18th, organizers prepared a DeFi special: a whole DeFi Day will be held on November 19th, featuring virtual discussions, workshops and livestreams. 

Yat Siu, Co-founder and Chairman, Animoca Brands, Founder and CEO, Outblaze: "As the COVID-19 pandemic continues worldwide, Hong Kong Blockchain Week 2020 will allow global blockchain leaders and investors to safely discuss the latest developments, opportunities and solutions in today’s most exciting field of technology. We are especially looking forward to the evolving discussions about the many benefits of non-fungible tokens for the general public."

As one of the most anticipated events for blockchain and fintech, Hong Kong Blockchain Week 2020 enjoys a rich agenda of associated events, including an online ceremony of the world’s first international TADS Awards 2020 on November 18th, celebrating the Tokenized Assets and Digital Securities industries by recognizing and honouring significant contributions worldwide.

About NexChange: NexChange Group is a venture innovation and media platform specializing in Blockchain, FinTech, HealthTech, AI, and Smart Cities. By creating a global O2O community, NexChange creates, markets, accelerates and provides access to innovative products.

For more information on the speakers, agenda, side events and partnerships, please visit https://www.hkblockchainweek.net/ or contact: info@nexchange.com 

"PR Newswire is the ‘Official Press Release Distribution Partner" of Block O2O Virtual Global Summit 2020 and Official Hong Kong Blockchain Week 2020"

xQuant Named to 2020 IDC FinTech 100 Rankings

HANGZHOU, China, Oct. 16, 2020 /PR Newswire/ — xQuant, a leading multiple-asset trade processing, portfolio management and risk analytics system and services provider for capital markets and investment management communities in China, announced that it has ranked No. 94 on the 2020 IDC FinTech 100 Rankings, one of the most comprehensive rankings in the financial services industry.  It is the first time xQuant has been recognized among the leading 100 technology providers that supply the technological backbone of the global financial services industry, one in which IDC Financial Insights forecasts worldwide technology spending to exceed $577 billion (USD) by 2024.

Founded in Hangzhou in 2000, xQuant provides systems and services for multiple asset front-to-back trade processing, portfolio management and analytics, risk management, pricing and risk analytics, data management and services.

Data for the annual IDC FinTech Rankings is gathered from surveys completed by vendors, as well as original research and market analysis conducted by IDC Financial Insights.  To view the complete list of 2020 IDC Rankings, click here

 

MMTEC, Inc. Announces Half Year 2020 Unaudited Financial Results

BEIJING, Oct. 16, 2020 — MMTEC, Inc. (NASDAQ: MTC) ("MMTEC", "we", "our" or the "Company"), a China based technology company that provides access to the U.S. financial markets, today announced its unaudited financial results for the six months ended June 30, 2020.

First Half 2020 Summary

  • Revenues increased by 85.35% from $177,543 to $329,070 following the October 18, 2019 consolidation of MMBD Trading Limited and MM Global Securities, Inc. into the Company. MM Global generated commission fees on customer securities transactions by providing brokerage service.
  • Cost of revenue decreased by 89.39% from $66,215 to $7,026 due to the 90.35% decline of revenues from the investor relationship advisory services.
  • Gross profit increased by 189.27% to $322,044 as compared to $111,328 for the same period in 2019, while the gross profit margin was 97.86%, as compared to 62.70% for the same period in 2019.
  • Loss from operations was $1,041,361 for the six months ended June 30, 2020, as compared to $1,308,583 for the same period of 2019. The decrease was primarily attributable to the increase in revenue and the decrease in payroll and related benefits in selling and marketing costs and general and administrative.
  • Net loss was $1,011,152 for the six months ended June 30, 2020, as compared to net loss of $1,326,941 for the same period of 2019.
  • Loss per share both on a basic and fully diluted basis were $0.05 for the six months ended June 30, 2020, as compared to loss per share on a basic and fully diluted basis of $0.07 for the six months ended June 30, 2019.

Xiangdong Wen, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chairman, commented, "Our revenue increased to $329,070 for the first half of 2020 as a result of our increased sales force in the broker- dealer business. Loss from operations decreased significantly as a result of the revenue increase and decrease in the size and distribution of support team for investor relations management services business and market data services business."

Mr. Wen continued, "As for the Company’s future strategy, in the face of the trade tension between China and the United States, the Company intend to increase its investment in the following two areas to address challenges of the changing market environment. 

First, the Company believes that Chinese investors will continue demand investments in U.S. securities and diversified asset allocations. To this end, the Company set up the asset management department to form a series of Manager of Managers ("MOM")  funds, with the main goal of attracting small and medium-sized institutional investors and helping them set up the fund to issue securities fund products. The Company will also help those investors with marketing and promotion of subscriptions by ordinary investors, to help ordinary investors realize the allocation of overseas assets and obtain high-quality asset management services. In addition, the Company remains optimistic about the opening up of China’s securities markets, and plans to establish a new U.S. team to service small and medium-sized overseas investment institutions, especially Wall Street institutions, to invest in Chinese securities market, acting as a bridge for Sino-US securities investment transactions."

Operating Results for Six Months Ended June 30, 2020

Revenues

We derive our revenues from (1) data services and related technical support (the "Market data services"); (2) investor relations management services business to help maintain the relationship between listed companies and the company’s equity, debt investors or potential investors(the "Investor relations management services"); and (3) commissions through customer securities transactions ("Commissions").

The following tables illustrate the Company’s revenue by revenue type:

For the six months Ended
June 30,

2019

2020

US$

US$

Market data services

34,363

44,146

Investor relations management services

143,180

13,807

Commissions

271,117

Total revenues

177,543

329,070

Cost of Revenue

Cost of revenue consists primarily of internal labor cost and related benefits, and other overhead costs that are directly attributable to services provided.

Cost of revenues decreased by $59,189, or 89.39%, to $7,026 for the six months ended June 30, 2020 from $66,215 for the same period last year. The decrease in cost of revenues is directly linked to the 90.36% decline of investor relationship advisory services revenues. Commissions revenue disclosed net revenue without cost.

Gross Profit and Gross Margin

Gross profit was $322,044 for the six months ended June 30, 2020, representing gross margin of 97.86%.

Operating Expenses

During the six months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively, operating expenses included selling and marketing, payroll and related benefits, professional fees, and other general and administrative expenses.

Selling and Marketing Costs

All costs related to selling and marketing are expensed as incurred. Selling and marketing costs decreased by $80,772, or 51.30%, to $76,668 for the six months ended June 30, 2020 from $157,440 for the same period last year.

Payroll and Related Benefits

Payroll and related benefits totaled $479,261 for the six months ended June 30, 2020, as compared to $404,405 for the six months ended June 30, 2019, an increase of $74,856.

Professional Fees

For the six months ended June 30, 2020, professional fees primarily consisted of audit fees, legal service fees, financial consulting fees, industry consulting fee, and other fees associated with being a public company. Professional fees totaled $403,300 for the six months ended June 30, 2020, as compared to $472,638 for the six months ended June 30, 2019, a decrease of $69,338.

Other General and Administrative Expenses

For the six months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, other general and administrative expenses were $404,176 and $385,428, respectively.

Loss from Operations

For six months ended June 30, 2020, loss from operations amounted to $1,041,361, as compared to loss from operations of $1,308,583 for the six months ended June 30, 2019, a decrease of $267,222, or 20.42%, which was mainly attributable to the increase revenue and the decrease selling and marketing costs and professional fees. In order to respond to the impact of COVID-19, the Company reduced the market data service and investor relations management services business lines, and decreased the size and distribution of its support team, especially the sales personnel. As COVID-19 delayed the launch of business initiatives, professional fees decreased as compared with the same period of last year. In turn, the expansion of the Company’s overall business scale has led to increases in payroll and related benefits and other general and administrative expenses.

Other Income (Expense)

Other income (expense) includes interest income from bank deposits, other income, other miscellaneous expense, loss on equity method investment, and foreign currency transaction gain. Other income totaled $30,209 for six months ended June 30, 2019, as compared to other expense of $18,358 for six months ended June 30, 2019, a change of $48,567, which was mainly attributable to the increase in interest income and other income.

Income Taxes

We did not have any income taxes expense for the six months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019 since we did not generate any taxable income in these two periods.

Net Loss

As a result of the factors described above, our net loss was $1,011,152, or $0.05 per share (basic and diluted), for the six months ended June 30, 2020. Our net loss was $1,326,941, or $0.07 per share (basic and diluted), for the six months ended June 30, 2019.

Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment

Our reporting currency is the U.S. dollar. The functional currency of our parent company, MMTEC INC., MM Future Technology Limited, MM Fund SPC, MM Global Capital Limited, MMBD Trading Limited, MMBD Investment Advisory Company Limited and MM Global Securities, INC, are the U.S. dollar, and the functional currency of Gujia (Beijing) Technology Co., Ltd., is the Chinese Renminbi ("RMB"). The financial statements of our subsidiaries whose functional currency is the RMB are translated to U.S. dollars using period end rates of exchange for assets and liabilities, average rate of exchange for revenue and expenses and cash flows, and at historical exchange rates for equity. Net gains and losses resulting from foreign exchange transactions are included in the results of operations. As a result of foreign currency translations, which are a non-cash adjustment, we reported a foreign currency translation loss of $23,138 and a foreign currency translation loss of $20,588 for the six months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively. This non-cash loss had the effect of increasing our reported comprehensive loss.

Comprehensive Loss

As a result of our foreign currency translation adjustment, we had comprehensive loss of $1,034,290 and $1,347,529 for the six months ended June 30, 2020 and 2019, respectively.

Financial Conditions

As of June 30, 2020, the Company had cash of $1,829,837, compared to $3,642,521 at December 31, 2019. Total working capital was $1,797,362 as of June 30, 2020, compared to working capital $3,542,211 as of December 31, 2019.

Net cash used in operating activities for the six months ended June 30, 2020 was $1,101,161, compared to $1,676,458 for the same period last year. Net cash used in investing activities was $742,236 for the six months ended June 30, 2020, compared to $148,890 for the same period last year. Net cash provided by financing activities was $41,250 for the six months ended June 30, 2020, compared to $6,682,673 for the same period of last year.

As an entity that operates in the financial industry in China and the United States, the Company finds itself subject to the challenges posed by the ongoing tension in the trade relations between the countries.

Shares Authorized and Issued

The Company is authorized to issue 500,000,000 shares with a par value of $0.001 per share.

There were 56,070,000 shares issued and 20,070,000 shares outstanding as of June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019.

Recent Developments

Pursuant to the investment agreement dated July 21, 2020, the company paid 750,000 shares to Tony Wayne Network Technology Co., Limited as compensation of a Hong Kong and China based consulting program. There were treasury stock of 36,000,000 shares at June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019. The company cancelled the 36,000,000 treasury stock at August 20, 2020. After the treasury stock was cancelled, there were 20,820,000 shares issued and outstanding as of October 15, 2020.

Notice

Rounding amounts and percentages: Certain amounts and percentages included in this press release have been rounded for ease of presentation. Percentage figures included in this press release have not in all cases been calculated on the basis of such rounded figures, but on the basis of such amounts prior to rounding. For this reason, certain percentage amounts in this press release may vary from those obtained by performing the same calculations using the figures in the financial statements. In addition, certain other amounts that appear in this press release may not sum due to rounding.

About MMTEC, Inc.

Headquartered in Beijing, China, our Company develops and deploys a series of platforms, such as the ETN Counter Business System, the PTN Private Fund Investment Management System, which comprise a business chain that enables Chinese language speaking hedge funds, mutual funds, registered investment advisors, proprietary trading groups, and brokerage firms to engage in securities market transactions and settlements globally. In 2020, the company used internally designed and built system with the US brokerage license and the Cayman fund management qualification to form a series of MOM funds, with the main goal of discovering small and medium-sized institutional investors and helping them set up the fund to issue securities fund products.

More information about the Company can be found at: www.51mm.com

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance, and underlying assumptions and other statements that are other than statements of historical facts. When the Company uses words such as "may", "will", "intend", "should", "believe", "expect", "anticipate", "project", "estimate" or similar expressions that do not relate solely to historical matters, it is making forward-looking statements. Specifically, the Company’s statements regarding its continued growth, business outlook, and other similar statements are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties that may cause the actual results to differ materially from the Company’s expectations discussed in the forward-looking statements. These statements are subject to uncertainties and risks including, but not limited to, the following: the Company’s goals and strategies; the Company’s future business development; product and service demand and acceptance; changes in technology; economic conditions; reputation and brand; the impact of competition and pricing; government regulations; fluctuations in general economic and business conditions in China and assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing and other risks contained in reports filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company’s most recently filed Annual Report on Form 20-F and its subsequent filings. For these reasons, among others, investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements in this press release. Additional factors are discussed in the Company’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, which are available for review at www.sec.gov. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly revise these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that arise after the date hereof.

 

 

 

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA

MMTEC, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS 

(IN U.S. DOLLARS) 

As of

June 30,
2020

December 31,
2019

(UNAUDITED)

ASSETS

CURRENT ASSETS:

Cash and cash equivalents

$

1,829,837

$

3,642,521

Accounts receivable, net

15,011

16,029

Other receivable

78,624

Loan to employee

169,503

172,013

Security deposits – current

10,875

46,512

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

376,701

392,011

Total Current Assets

2,401,927

4,347,710

NON-CURRENT ASSETS:

Security deposit – noncurrent

604,047

605,588

Property and equipment, net

130,385

132,016

Operating lease right-of-use asset

767,159

979,885

Long-term investment

928,199

143,346

Total Non-current Assets

2,429,790

1,860,835

Total Assets

$

4,831,717

$

6,208,545

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

CURRENT LIABILITIES:

Deferred revenue

$

18,137

$

63,246

Salary payable

160,162

174,741

Accrued liabilities and other payables

39,200

222,152

Due to related parties

8,000

6,030

Operating lease liabilities – current

379,066

339,330

Total Current Liabilities

604,565

805,499

NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES:

Operating lease liabilities – noncurrent

465,530

648,334

Loan payable

41,250

Total Non-current Liabilities

506,780

648,334

Total Liabilities

1,111,345

1,453,833

SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY:

Common shares ($0.001 par value; 500,000,000 shares authorized; 56,070,000
shares issued and 20,070,000 shares outstanding at June 30,2020 and
December 31, 2019)

56,070

56,070

Additional paid-in capital

11,229,289

11,229,339

Less: treasury stock, at cost;

(36,000,000 shares at June 30, 2020 and December 31, 2019)

(36,000)

(36,000)

Accumulated deficit

(7,386,455)

(6,375,303)

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

(142,532)

(119,394)

Total Shareholders’ Equity

3,720,372

4,754,712

Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity

$

4,831,717

$

6,208,545

 

 

 

MMTEC, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS

(IN U.S. DOLLARS)

(UNAUDITED)

For the Six
Months
Ended

For the Six
Months
Ended

June 30,
2020

June 30,
2019

REVENUE

$

329,070

$

177,543

COST OF REVENUE

7,026

66,215

GROSS PROFIT

322,044

111,328

OPERATING EXPENSES:

Selling and marketing

76,668

157,440

General and administrative

Payroll and related benefits

479,261

404,405

Professional fees

403,300

472,638

Other general and administrative

404,176

385,428

Total Operating Expenses

1,363,405

1,419,911

LOSS FROM OPERATIONS

(1,041,361)

(1,308,583)

OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):

Interest income

27,571

1,768

Other income

25,204

Other expenses

(721)

(114)

Foreign currency transaction gain (loss)

(3,525)

3,764

Loss on equity method investment

(18,320)

(23,776)

Total Other Income (Expense)

30,209

(18,358)

LOSS BEFORE INCOME TAXES

(1,011,152)

(1,326,941)

INCOME TAXES

NET LOSS

$

(1,011,152)

$

(1,326,941)

COMPREHENSIVE LOSS:

NET LOSS

(1,011,152)

(1,326,941)

OTHER COMPREHENSIVE LOSS

 Foreign currency translation adjustments

(23,138)

(20,588)

COMPREHENSIVE LOSS

$

(1,034,290)

$

(1,347,529)

NET LOSS PER COMMON SHARE

Basic and diluted

$

(0.05)

$

(0.07)

WEIGHTED AVERAGE NUMBER OF COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING:

Basic and diluted

20,070,000

19,955,635

 

 

 

MMTEC, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(IN U.S. DOLLARS)

(UNAUDITED)

For the Six
Months
Ended

For the Six
Months
Ended

June 30,
2020

June 30,
2019

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:

Net loss

$

(1,011,152)

$

(1,326,941)

Adjustments to reconcile net loss from operations to net cash used in operating
activities:

Depreciation expense

10,338

10,315

Loss on equity method investment

18,320

23,776

Noncash lease expense

145,246

150,011

Loss on acquisition

721

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

Operating lease liability

(75,003)

(157,631)

Accounts Receivable

1,018

Security deposit

35,194

(1,107)

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

14,733

(104,903)

Deferred revenue

(44,485)

(34,363)

Salary payable

(12,456)

(73,471)

Accrued liabilities and other payables

(183,636)

(162,144)

NET CASH USED IN OPERATING ACTIVITIES

(1,101,162)

(1,676,458)

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:

Collection of loan to third party

78,002

Cash proceeds from acquisition

279

Purchase of property and equipment

(10,636)

(16,885)

Loan to employee

(44,243)

Payment in equity method investment

(809,881)

(87,762)

NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES

(742,236)

(148,890)

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:

Cash proceeds from long-term loan

41,250

Proceeds from issuance of stocks

6,851,401

Repayments to related parties

(168,728)

NET CASH PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES

41,250

6,682,673

EFFECT OF EXCHANGE RATE ON CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

(10,536)

(16,355)

NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

(1,812,684)

4,840,970

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS – beginning of period

3,642,521

93,625

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS – end of period

$

1,829,837

$

4,934,595

SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:

Cash paid for:

Interest

$

$

Income taxes

$

$

NON-CASH INVESTING AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES:

Remeasurement of the lease liabilities and right-of-use assets due to lease
modification

$

29,904

$

Proceeds from issuance of stocks deposited in escrow

$

$

500,000

Consideration of acquisition payable to related party

$

1,000

$

 

 

Related Links :

http://www.51mm.com

YouTrip Launches Dedicated Group to Take On The Rise of Online Gaming

With Singapore’s First SEA Games Esports Medalist Onboard

SINGAPORE, Oct. 15, 2020 YouTrip, Singapore’s leading multi-currency mobile wallet announces the launch of ‘YouTrip Gaming’, an online gaming community tailored for Singaporean gamers. As a consumer past time, gaming has grown significantly during the pandemic. With the launch of YouTrip Gaming, YouTrip hopes to provide a platform to connect like-minded users and strengthen the love for gaming that spans beyond the pandemic. With restrictions still in place for group sizes and public gatherings, many Singaporeans are still opting to stay home to play video and online games instead. In 2020 (January to September), YouTrip has noted a 260% increase in online transactions of games and accessories compared to the same period in 2019.

YouTrip Gaming Community

With COVID-19 social distancing measures increasing the demand for gaming as a form of entertainment, YouTrip has noticed a similar trend in users making more online purchases from gaming-related sites like Nintendo, Twitch, and Steam. Based on a survey of 2,000 YouTrip users, the top five most popular games are Dota 2, Valorant, Among Us, League of Legends, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive.

To provide a platform for passionate gamers to connect, YouTrip Gaming is hosted on Discord, a server-based instant messaging platform. On the dedicated server, users can chat with others who enjoy the same type of games, discuss tactics and initiate gaming sessions together. Since the launch, YouTrip Gaming members have spent 3,620 minutes on Valorant and 2,735 minutes on Dota 2. 

One of the prominent features of the community group is the interest-based chat groups where users can discuss with others who share the same interest. For example, in the "Recommend Gears" discussion group, users can recommend their gaming equipment purchases to others who might be new to this area.

Offering the unique proposition to pay at the best foreign currency exchange rates at no mark-ups and fees, the use case of YouTrip to pay for games and accessories from overseas sites was highly popular. YouTrip has seen a 98% quarterly increase in transactions made in foreign currencies from April to June, compared to January to March. Similarly, online transactions on gaming accessories like computer monitors, which boasts a dual-use for remote work arrangement have also been on the increasing trend. 

YouTrip Gaming Ambassadors

To represent YouTrip’s unique extension into gaming, prominent names in the local gaming community are onboard as YouTrip’s gaming ambassadors. They include content creator and Singapore’s first silver medalist for e-sports in 2019’s SEA Games, Thomas Kopankiewicz, and Megan Soh, a full-time gaming and lifestyle streamer on Twitch with over 10,000 followers. Till date, YouTrip has amassed close to 5,000 active users in various community groups with interest in shopping, beauty and travel.

YouTrip Gaming Community is open to anyone with an interest in gaming. To join, please visit http://go.you.co/Gaming. In the coming weeks, YouTrip will be launching mini gaming tournaments and curated rewards for the gaming community.

ABOUT YOUTRIP

YouTrip is a regional financial technology startup, dedicated to creating the best mobile financial services for travellers across Southeast Asia by simplifying overseas spending and creating a fuss-free travel experience. YouTrip first launched in Singapore in 2018 and subsequently in Thailand in 2019.

For more information, please visit www.you.co

Logo – https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20200514/2804174-1LOGO?lang=0

Related Links :

http://www.you.co

Developing the Global Digital Asset Ecosystem: HashKey Pro Signs MOU with Archax to Enhance Strategic Cooperation

Building Regulated Digital Asset Marketplaces is Essential to Serving an Increasing Roster of Institutional Investors

HONG KONG, Oct. 13, 2020 — HashKey Pro, HashKey Group’s digital asset trading platform, announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Archax, a leading global digital security exchange and custody service. The two firms will partner to better serve institutional clients and drive the development of the global digital asset ecosystem.

According to the MOU, HashKey Pro and Archax will pursue the joint development of common standards to further promote the development of the global institutional digital asset securities market. The two companies will work on standards and processes to support growth in liquidity and quality in asset listings across regions, sharing insights on local regulator developments in digital securities as they develop. 

Ben El-Baz, Chief Ecosystem Officer of HashKey Group, comments, "Linking up Asian and global digital asset markets is a key foundation of HashKey’s businesses. As we start to see more and more regulated markets for digital securities in different jurisdictions begin to launch, it is pivotal that we build an inclusive network that works together on common standards that will help grow institutional liquidity for issuers. We are excited to expand this partnership with Archax, a trailblazer in the regulated digital securities exchange market."   

With an increasing number of institutional investors showing an interest in the digital assets and securities markets, it is more important than ever to provide both secure and wide-ranging product offerings. As the first ever FCA-regulated digital securities exchange and custodian in the UK, Archax provides an excellent offering to institutional investors. Through the cross-border partnership between Archax and HashKey, investors in each market can enjoy an expanded overseas product offering from exchanges with a focus on regulatory compliance.

Graham Rodford, CEO of Archax, comments, "We are really only at the very start of the digital asset revolution in financial markets, but the opportunity is immense. To succeed in this nascent but rapidly evolving space, partnerships are key. As the first FCA-regulated digital securities exchange based in London, establishing relationships with leading players in other regions is part of our strategy for growth. HashKey’s presence in Asia make them an ideal partner for us, and we look forward to working with them to extend our reach and establish global standards as momentum builds in the digital assets space."  

Prior to the signing of the MOU, HashKey Pro has also clearly demonstrated a significant commitment to regulated markets within the overall institutional digital asset securities ecosystem. In 2019, HashKey Pro partnered with Blockstack PBC to list the Stacks (STX) token on its exchange, a positive move in the pursuit of regulatory compliance in the digital assets market. In March of 2020, HashKey Pro joined the Travel Rule Information Sharing Architecture (TRISA) Consortium as Founding Member, an important milestone in its mission to building compliant, institutional-grade digital asset market infrastructure. Finally, in August, HashKey Pro joined other key players in the global digital token business in creating the Veriscope Governance Task Force and the onboarding framework for Veriscope, a decentralized compliance framework and smart-contract platform for Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs).

About HashKey Group

HashKey Group is a leader in digital asset management and blockchain solutions. The Group provides a complete ecosystem across the entire digital asset landscape, ranging from capital, to custody, to technologies, trading, and exchange. HashKey’s senior team has deep investment, governance, and technology expertise gained at tier-one banks, regulators, and fintech ventures. HashKey identifies high potential opportunities and deliver end-to-end solutions that operate within regulatory frameworks with high compliance standards. The Group has operations in Hong Kong, Singapore and Japan, and extensive partnerships with fintech and blockchain solutions providers, academic institutions, and associations. Official Website: https://www.hashkey.com/ 

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Related Links :

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HPD Lendscape Partners With Emirates Development Bank to Launch New National Supply Chain Finance Platform

LONDON, Oct. 13, 2020 — HPD LendScape, a leading international secured lending platform vendor, today announces it has partnered with Emirates Development Bank (EDB) to launch UAE’s National Supply Chain Finance (SCF) platform, giving UAE businesses improved access to working capital, particularly as they cope with the added pressures of the COVID-19 pandemic.

SCF solutions enable suppliers to gain quicker access to money they are owed, while buyers get more time to pay off their balances and the new platform will offer a simple, fast and transparent way for bank lenders to onboard both buyers and suppliers. The initial phase of the project offering a payables finance solution has now gone live. The next phase is set to provide a comprehensive suite of buyer and supplier centric SFC variations, including Islamic Finance products.

Bringing together buyers, suppliers and banks onto one platform, the National Supply Chain Finance solution helps simplify and automate operations, mitigate risk more effectively and make SME finance easily accessible – much needed in the UAE today.

Claudia Perri, Regional Commercial Director Southern EMEA for HPD LendScape, commented: "We are delighted to announce this new partnership with Emirates Development Bank and launch the National Supply Chain Finance platform. Through this platform, UAE banks and other lenders have the opportunity to help businesses optimise supply chains, improve working capital and streamline their operations – never more critical than during the pandemic."

Faisal Aqil Al Bastaki, Chief Executive Officer of EDB, said: "With SME’s facing an unprecedented challenge, accessing efficient finance is vital. In our role as the UAE’s development bank, EDB is filling the gap and has launched a first class National Supply Chain Finance Platform, powered by one of the best names in the business, HPD LendScape. Such a sophisticated and digitally enhanced SCF platform is a crucial resource to any well-functioning economy; lenders and buyers should take advantage of it to ensure that SMEs continue to play their part in the UAE’s economic growth, long after Covid-19 has passed."

Kevin Day, CEO of HPD LendScape, said: "We’re thrilled to work together with EDB on this landmark partnership. Going live in record time and fully implemented remotely, the project demonstrates the value of a truly collaborative approach, with ourselves, EDB and the IFC all working successfully together to ensure project success."

AIA Thailand Partners with Vymo to Strengthen its Partner Distribution Channel


– With Vymo’s Partner Relation Management platform, the AIA Bancassurance team, is able to closely support their National Sales Heads and Business Development Managers to optimise engagement activities with their bank partner.

SINGAPORE, Oct. 9, 2020 — Today, Vymo (www.getvymo.com), the Distribution Excellence Cloud for Financial Services, announced that it has partnered with AIA Thailand to improve distribution engagement and sales support effectiveness of their partner channels in Thailand to increase positive engagement at the front-line and improve customer propositions. With Vymo, AIA Thailand’s Bancassurance team will have daily end-to-end visibility of the activities required to deliver a positive and sustainable support infrastructure.


AIA Thailand is the largest insurance company in terms of market share1, approximately 1 out every 3 life insurance policies in Thailand is written by AIA2. With Vymo’s intelligent Partner Relationship Management platform, AIA Thailand will be able to monitor how sales support activities are impacting revenue outcomes and improve the quality of partner engagement. Over 300+ Relationship Managers Business Development Executives across Thailand will be using Vymo to make their engagement with their partner distribution networks more efficient.

Speaking on the partnership, Darren Thomson, Chief Strategic Bancassurance Alliance Officer, AIA Thailand, says "Vymo was able to prove, through other interactions with AIA and testimonials to the like, that the company is physically and morally capable of doing an efficient job."

"We are thrilled to partner with AIA in Thailand and are committed to set new benchmarks of sales productivity in the region. Our partnership with the largest insurer of Thailand further validates our efforts to provide the best sales solutions to our customers," adds Anurag Srivastava, GM – Asia Pacific & Japan.

Vymo has witnessed rapid growth across the Asia-Pacific region. In India, Tata AIA Life Insurance Company Limited (Tata AIA Life) is a joint venture by Tata Sons Ltd. and AIA Group Ltd. (AIA), deployed Vymo in 2019 to improve partner network health and brand coverage. Vymo helps sales managers to optimize the top of the funnel by allocating the leads to the most appropriate agent and nudge timely engagements to improve conversions per agent and reduce customer turnaround times.

Remarks:

1 Information based on Insurance Statistics, March 2020, by the Thai Life Assurance Association.

2 Information based on a report by the Thai Life Assurance Association, Annual Statistics 2018.

About AIA Group

AIA Group Limited and its subsidiaries (collectively "AIA" or the "Group") comprise the largest independent publicly listed pan-Asian life insurance group. It has a presence in 18 markets in Asia-Pacific – wholly-owned branches and subsidiaries in Mainland China, Hong Kong SAR(1), Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, Cambodia, Indonesia, Myanmar, the Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan (China), Vietnam, Brunei, Macau SAR(2), New Zealand, a 99 percent subsidiary in Sri Lanka, and a 49 percent joint venture in India. 

About Vymo

Vymo (getvymo.com) is the distribution excellence cloud for financial services, trusted by over 100,000 salespeople across 60+ financial enterprises across the world. Global leaders such as AIA, AXA, Sunlife, Generali, Allianz, and more trust Vymo to improve sales and distribution efficiencies. Vymo is recognized by Gartner as a Cool Vendor and is funded by Emergence Capital and Sequoia Capital. 

Related Links

Vymo for Bancassurance – https://getvymo.com/partner-management/
Watch Vymo in action – https://youtu.be/DOFdcK8cUxw
Upcoming events & webinars – https://getvymo.com/whats-happening/
Logo – https://goo.gl/i6sEpi 

For more information:
Gunjan Saha
gunjan@getvymo.com

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Second Citizenship from St Kitts and Nevis Opens Doors to British Education in Times of Crisis

LONDON, Oct. 9, 2020 — Despite predictions that the pandemic would cause a decline in international students, the United Kingdom is set for a record increase. Interestingly, enrolments from non-EU international students went up 9 per cent this academic year. According to Jimmy Beale, the founder of The English Education, a placement consultancy that advises international parents about independent schools in the UK, Chinese students make up much of the international student body in Britain. A Chinese education agency survey also found that the UK surpassed the US as a destination of choice for students due to growing tensions between China and the US.

Beale, whose clients are often admitted to top tier institutions like Westminster and Harrow, says that all international boarding pupils who do not have UK passports require a Tier 4 Student Visa. Although the process is simple for students, parents had difficulties visiting their children as embassies in certain countries were closed. 

"If you are a St Kitts and Nevis citizen, the process of sending your child abroad for schooling is much simpler," says Natasha Jones, a legal assistant at CS Global Partners. "You are exempt from requirements to prove knowledge of the English language, you do not need to have a tuberculosis test if you reside in St Kitts and Nevis, and you are exempt from the requirement to self-isolate for 14 days upon arrival in the UK if you have spent the last 14 days in St Kitts and Nevis. Family members [with St Kitts and Nevis citizenship] can also easily visit their children who are studying in the UK because of their visa-free access," she added.

Jones also highlighted St Kitts and Nevis’ status as a Commonwealth country and the benefit that it brings. "In the UK, Commonwealth citizens are eligible for various scholarships for master’s degrees and PhD courses which often cover tuition fees, living allowance, and travel," she said.

The fastest and easiest way to attain St Kitts and Nevis citizenship is through the Citizenship by Investment Programme. Once vetted, investors can contribute to the Sustainable Growth Fund and receive citizenship. Along with the advantages of education and travel, citizenship can also be passed down. For a limited time, families of up to four can invest $150,000 and brighten their child’s path to high-quality education.

pr@csglobalpartners.com

www.csglobalpartners.com

 

Related Links :

https://csglobalpartners.com/

Warburg Pincus to invest $95MN (INR 700 CR) in Home First – One of India’s leading affordable housing finance companies


MUMBAI, India, Oct. 9, 2020 — US based private equity firm Warburg Pincus LLC ("Warburg Pincus"), through it’s affiliate Orange Clove Investments BV, has entered into an agreement to invest about $95 MN (INR 700 Cr) in Home First Finance Company India Ltd ("Home First") on October 2, 2020. The announcement came in today from the leading global private equity firm focused on growth investing. The investment of approximately INR 700 crore is a combination of primary fund raise and secondary sales by existing shareholders. Warburg Pincus joins existing marquee PE firm shareholders True North and Bessemer Venture Partners.

Home First is a technology driven, affordable housing finance company providing home loans to customers from low- and middle-income segments, who are building or buying their first homes. Over the last 10 years, Home First has sanctioned home loans across India to more than 50,000 customers in 60 districts, covering 11 states and 1 union territory. As of March 31, 2020, Home First had an AUM of $480 Mn (INR 3618 Cr) with a Net worth of $124 Mn (INR 933 Cr) and GNPA of 0.87%

This investment is a huge vote of confidence for the Indian affordable housing segment in general and more specifically for the performance of Home First even in the face of this worldwide crisis.

Narendra Ostawal, MD, Warburg Pincus said, "Home First has had a remarkable journey to become a leading affordable housing finance company in a relatively short span of 10 years. It is helmed by a very talented team and robust operating processes that continue to steer the company to do well through the pandemic and to leverage the growth potential of the affordable segment. Warburg Pincus looks forward to the partnership with True North and towards backing Manoj and the management team in its next phase of expansion."

Divya Sehgal, Partner, True North said, "We are proud of the way the company has utilised technology to its advantage, adopting a digital first approach in navigating Covid-19. We welcome Warburg Pincus and look forward to partnering with them in the upcoming journey of Home First."

"Home First is excited to partner with Warburg Pincus in this new phase of its journey.. True North has been a great support as we scaled from a small to a mid-sized company. Our shared passion for tech, belief in sustainable growth and strong governance has seen us thrive through several disruptive events," said Manoj Viswanathan, CEO, Home First.

To know more about Warburg Pincus & Home First click here

Note:

Currency

Exchange rate as on March 31, 2020 (INR)

Exchange rate as on October 1, 2020 (INR)

1 USD

75.3859

73.3834

(Source for 1 USD: www.fbil.org and www.rbi.org.in). Rate as on October 1,2020 is considered since October 2 was a public holiday.

Disclaimer:

Home First Finance Company India Limited is proposing, subject to receipt of requisite approvals, market conditions and other considerations, to undertake an initial public offer of its equity shares and has filed a draft red herring prospectus dated November 28, 2019 ("DRHP") with the Securities and Exchange Board of India on November 29, 2019. The DRHP is available on the website of the SEBI at www.sebi.gov.in, the respective websites of the book running lead managers, i.e., Axis Capital Limited, Credit Suisse Securities (India) Private Limited, ICICI Securities Limited and Kotak Mahindra Capital Company Limited at www.axiscapital.co.inhttps://www.creditsuisse.com/in/en/investmentbanking/regionalpresence/asiapacific/india/ipo.htmlwww.icicisecurities.com and http://investmentbank.kotak.com, respectively, the website of the National Stock Exchange of India Limited at www.nseindia.com and the website of BSE Limited at www.bseindia.com. Investors should note that investment in equity shares involves a high degree of risk and for details relating to such risk, see "Risk Factors" of the DRHP. Potential investors should not rely on the DRHP for any investment decision.

The Equity Shares of Home First have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended ("U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws in the United States, and unless so registered may not be offered or sold within the United States, except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. Accordingly, such Equity Shares are being offered and sold (i) outside of the United States in offshore transactions in reliance on Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act and the applicable laws of the jurisdiction where those offers and sales occur; and (ii) to "qualified institutional buyers" (as defined in Rule 144A under the U.S. Securities Act), pursuant to the private placement exemption set out in Section 4(a) of the U.S. Securities Act. Neither this release nor information on the website of Home First constitutes or forms a part of any offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to purchase or subscribe for such Equity Shares in the United States or elsewhere where such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.

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Columbia Sportswear Company Selects Adyen as its Payments Partner in the US and Globally


Adyen will power unified commerce payments for Columbia Sportswear Company and its brands including Columbia, Sorel, Mountain Hardwear, and prAna

AMSTERDAM, Oct. 8, 2020 — Adyen (AMS: ADYEN), the global payments platform of choice for many of the world’s leading companies, announced today that it has been selected by Columbia Sportswear Company (CSC), a leader in the global active lifestyle apparel, footwear, accessories and equipment industry, as its primary payments provider. Adyen is live with CSC brands today and will continue its roll out across the U.S., Canada, and Europe with all major CSC brands, including Columbia, Sorel, Mountain Hardwear, and prAna.

By integrating with Adyen, CSC and its family of brands will have access to a unified commerce platform, creating a single view of payments and customer data across in-store and online purchases. 

With the global pandemic keeping people at home, customers have increasingly turned to online shopping. Having a seamless platform with a consistent experience across all channels became even more essential to CSC and its brands in 2020.   

"Adyen was the clear choice for us as we build our unified commerce capabilities to create an even better consumer experience both online and in-store," said Mike Hirt, Chief Information Officer for Columbia Sportswear Company. "We’re feeling good that we had the foresight to begin work with Adyen before the COVID-19 crisis hit and consumers began to prefer online shopping and contactless payments." 

"We’re honored to work with Columbia Sportswear Company and its family of brands to create a better customer experience for their shoppers in the US, Canada, and beyond," said Kamran Zaki, COO, Adyen. "Payments in the retail landscape are changing faster than ever, and businesses need to be equipped to stay on top of emerging trends. Many of these trends are happening at the point of checkout and together we hope to create a positive shopping experience across all channels."

For more information, visit www.adyen.com.

About Adyen
Adyen (AMS: ADYEN) is the payments platform of choice for many of the world’s leading companies, providing a modern end-to-end infrastructure connecting directly to Visa, Mastercard, and consumers’ globally preferred payment methods. Adyen delivers frictionless payments across online, mobile, and in-store channels. With offices across the world, Adyen serves customers including Facebook, Uber, Spotify, Casper, Bonobos and L’Oréal. The cooperation with Columbia Sportswear Company as described in this merchant update underlines Adyen’s continuous growth with current and new merchants over the years.

About Columbia Sportswear Company
Columbia Sportswear Company has assembled a portfolio of brands for active lives, making it a leader in the global active lifestyle apparel, footwear, accessories, and equipment industry. Founded in 1938 in Portland, Oregon, the company’s brands are today sold in approximately 90 countries. In addition to the Columbia® brand, Columbia Sportswear Company also owns the Mountain Hardwear®, SOREL® and prAna® brands. To learn more, please visit the company’s websites at www.columbia.comwww.mountainhardwear.comwww.sorel.com and www.prana.com

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