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The Money Service Lab (MSL) partners with Apata for 3dSecure on its new issuing processing platform for banks and issuers in Europe

BNP Paribas SA

The Money Service Lab today announced a partnership with Apata in order to provide 3DSecure capability and Authentication services for MSL card issuing and processing solutions and projects in Europe. Conor Doyle, co-founder and CEO of MSL said 'After a period of evaluating the various offerings in the 3Dsecure and Secure Customer Authentication market generally we are delighted to partner with Apata. We believe the two companies share a mutual approach to technology and business. The partnership will enable MSL to offer a tailor-made solution to Issuers of Debit, Credit and Electronic Money when using the MSL platform, combined with the flexibility and outstanding technology offered by Apata. This partnership will also enable MSL to offer the solution in other regions Globally going forward. Conor Doyle went on to say ‘As we expand our offering for banks, credit card issuers eMoney institutions and programme managers we have to ensure our partnerships have the capacity to support us as we grow in different regions. MSL has been chosen to sit as the issuing processor for a number of projects in the USA and LAC/South America region and it was important to us to choose a partner who could also operate and support MSL in those regions. A big factor in choosing Apata as a partner included the fact we had worked closely with a number of the Apata team previously when they were running “Touchtech Payments," a company that was later acquired by “Stripe” in 2019 and were impressed with their knowledge, capabilities and commitment. Mike Muscato, Head of Technology and a co-founder of MSL added 'Choosing a partner for authentication services was more than just focusing on commercials. Because our cloud-based solution is so flexible, we need to have technology partners who can cater for that and not rely on legacy approaches and practices. If you think about it, we can create multi-instances and multi-tenant versions of the platform almost instantaneously in any region, for multiple clients. ‘ Mike Muscato continued ‘this means our clients, banks, credit card issuers e-money entities etc, can basically set up and be live in days or weeks, as opposed to months. If you then also overlay the platform capable of running at 9000 Transactions Per Second, then you are going to need a flexible and scalable authentication capability and partner, and that is what we have found in Apata’ Niall Hogan, CPO and co-founder of Apata said “We are delighted to partner with MSL, a company which shares our ethos for leading edge, cloud-native technology. Our shared focus on modern technology and product innovation with common values of customer service and reliability make the partnership a no-brainer.” Shekinah Adewumi, CEO and co-founder of Apata added that he welcomed the renewed relationship with the MSL team, which confirms Apata as the preferred partner for the next generation of payment providers. Shekinah went on to say “Apata already supports millions of cardholders in fraud prevention, and we look forward to bringing our best-in-class 3DS solution to MSL customers.” For MSL: For all enquiries, please reach out to MSL at info@themsl.com or visit us at www.themsl.com For Apata For all enquiries, please reach out to Apata info@apata.io or visit us at www.apata.io NewsSource: PinionNewswire Contact Details Money Service Lab (MSL) info@themsl.com Company Website https://themsl.com/

November 07, 2024 11:20 AM Eastern Standard Time

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The Money Service Lab announces the launch of its licenced service model for Issuers globally

BNP Paribas SA

The Money Service Lab (MSL) today announced the launch of its licencing model for entities wishing to become their own issuing processor for Visa, MasterCard, Discover and other card scheme networks. The move comes after the company successfully completed its MasterCard Europe certification, alongside Visa LAC and other ongoing certifications. Europe alone has circa 5,000 banks in situ and globally the number is closer to 40,000 whilst there are less than 50 processors operating at any scale. The European Central Bank estimated that there were over 72 billion card transactions processed in Europe in 2023. Lee Britton, Strategy Director at MSL said “When we founded the Money Service Lab in 2021 our vision was based on 2 factors; a huge increase in card-based transactions, whether physical or digital and a gap in the market for banks and issuers to become their own processor, instead of relying on the old incumbents. We set about creating a platform that could cater for three scenarios, the first being the old established ‘Managed Processing as a service’, where MSL would run the platform on behalf of our clients and do everything, from soup to nuts. The second scenario we envisaged was where MSL would still be the certified processor but our clients would run the platform on a day-to-day basis, configuring programmes, changes, fees, limits, spend control functions and multi-currency capabilities for example. But the third scenario we planned for and built, and the one that really interested us the most, was where we could licence or sell the platform to banks, credit card issuers, eMoney institutions, tech companies and integrators, where they would become the certified processor in their own right with access to the source code and ability to customise and change as they wished”. Mike Muscato, CTO for Money Service Lab, stated “What intrigued us at the beginning of the journey was ‘how do we empower more banks and issuers generally to take control of the card systems they rely on and enable them to launch portfolios on their own version of the platform’. We knew it would be a challenge and we had a lot of head-scratching moments in 2022 to figure out how to create multiple instances of the platform, almost at the drop of a hat and to maintain all the functionality available in our platform consistently through our licencing model, without compromising on our enormous processing power and ability to throttle and process circa 9000 Transactions Per Second (9000 TPS). Luckily, we had huge experience of this in our sister company, Muscato Corporation where we licence our switch, ENGIN© to many of the world’s largest processors, in Healthcare and Financial systems as examples. We estimate that around 15% of all financial transactions in the USA pass through ENGIN© through our licence customers, so it was a no-brainer for us at MSL to put ENGIN© at the heart of our platform” Mike Muscato went on to say “So as we perfected the MSL platform we took a leaf out of the Muscato Corporation playbook and took the same licencing approach, so if you are licencing the MSL platform you are getting also the best of the ENGIN© switch as well, tried and tested by some of the world’s largest financial processors. Conor Doyle, CEO of MSL, said ‘With card-based transactions increasing year-on-year at around 15% it is a clearly a fast-growing market, accelerating at a rapid pace. Our belief is that there are too few processors and globally there are just a handful present in every region, mostly managing legacy technical stacks. That gap in the market is where a company like MSL can make a difference. Multi-Currency processing is standard for us, alongside spend controls, fraud and risk monitoring and our pretty much unique ‘Compliance as a Service’ risk and AML system which provides the issuer or technology partner with everything needed to be able to control and report suspicious activity to their own regulator, as well as complementing their own internal systems. My belief, having been around processors since the early 2000’s, is that we have built something that we can grow globally but we can put the power back into the hands of the banks, credit card issuers and eMoney and Payment Institutions, so that they can process their own cards at a fraction of the cost they pay externally today. Combine that with the ability to move between any one of the three model (managed, hybrid or licenced) as well as the fact we are more than happy to sell the platform as an instance and pass over the source code, makes it, in my view, a pretty compelling proposition’. About MSL Payments Headquartered in London, United Kingdom, with offices in USA and Spain, MSL provides an innovative payment solutions platform for banks, credit card issuers, eMoney and Payment Institutions and programmes and programme managers. Currently already certified in Europe and Latin America Caribbean, MSL will continue to obtain certifications globally to help businesses all over the world create awesome customer experiences. MSL offers a full range of services, including issuing processing either as managed service or as a licence (where the client becomes the processor) as well as market-leading programme management and highly skilled payments expertise to create customisable feature-rich solutions for issuers, businesses, brands and their customers. About Muscato Corporation Specializing in developing, marketing and implementing transaction technologies for both established and emerging markets and creating outlets for licensing and operating its solution sets. Muscato has a firmed foundation in several vertical markets, including healthcare and financial payments, with significant financial and operational impact to the overall organization. With over 35 year track record of architecting, developing and implementing highly scalable transaction processing software, managing tens of billions of transactions yearly, Muscato is widely recognized in performance engineering and delivery systems. Muscato has a worldwide footprint through our suite of products. Products define the next generation of e-commerce platforms, specifically message brokering, card management, fully integrated healthcare payer exchange, money remittance, mobile banking, and transaction security. For MSL Payments Come and explore the many opportunities our platform has to offer by visiting us at www.themsl.com or email us on info@themsl.com For Muscato Corporation For all enquiries, please reach out to Muscato Corporation at sales@muscato.com or visit us at www.muscato.com/ News Source: PinionNewswire Contact Details Muscato Corporation sales@muscato.com Company Website https://csj-consulting.com/

November 05, 2024 09:01 AM Eastern Standard Time

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ENEOS brings Dazzling array of Booth Cars and New Products to SEMA 2024

ENEOS USA

ENEOS – Japan’s largest oil company and supplier of motor oil and transmission fluids to the majority of Asian vehicle manufacturers – will be located in booth #24133 in Central Hall at the annual SEMA Show in Las Vegas this week. The company supplies lubricating oil to Japanese and Asian manufacturers for factory fill around the world. It also provides the aftermarket with premium vehicle lubricants and is introducing a new line of EV/Hybrid fluids to assist with long term vehicle maintenance. The ENEOS booth will highlight its activities in the performance aftermarket, high-performance motorsports, and showcase its most advanced products. ENEOS display vehicles will be located throughout the show to capture the essence of ENEOS and its commitment to performance. ENEOS booth #24133 will feature a pair of high-profile vehicles, including a widebody 1971 Datsun 240Z and 1972 Toyota Celica. Both feature significant engine upgrades in addition to bodywork and chassis modifications that will appeal to performance enthusiasts. Additionally, ENEOS invited two vehicles from its annual Show Car Contest. A 1960 Renault Dauphine with a mid-engined VW VR6 engine conversion and 1100hp Mk4 Toyota Supra will both be displayed in Silver Lot V024 and V025. Details and photographs of all four vehicles are available below and in the News section on the ENEOS website here: eneos.us 1971 DATSUN 240Z The ENEOS booth #24133 will feature John Lau's “Devil Z” Datsun 240Z (S30), which was inspired by the anime manga series Wangan Midnight. The project is a collaboration between Lau and designer Jon Sibal – a SEMA veteran who designed the Datsun’s muscular widebody styling, also incorporating a Skillard custom front splitter and rear diffuser. The wider fenders allowed significantly bigger 17x11.5” front, 18x13” rear Work Meister M1 wheels with Toyo Proxes R888R tires. And with all that grip, the owner wanted to ensure the ENEOS-lubricated engine was up to the challenge, so he installed a Datsun 280ZX L28 bored to L30 with forged 87mm flat-top pistons, forged H-beam connecting rods, and a ported and polished P90 head. A Garrett G35-900 turbo was mounted on a Protuner ZTurbo manifold and downpipe, which forces air into a fabricated intake plenum with 47mm velocity stacks. Everything is controlled by a Haltech 2500 ECU programmed for E85 and providing traction control. Power is transmitted through a Nissan G37 six-speed transmission to a Ford Super 8 diff. Apex Engineered takes care of the major suspension components while Turbohoses crafted 340mm carbon-ceramic rotors to ensure the 240Z could stop efficiently. The car features a number of special emblems and easter eggs for visitors to find. These include billet pitchfork emblems on the exterior, a billet "Devil Z" oil cap under the hood, and personalized "Devil Z" Speedhut gauges inside. The car was assembled and painted by Supreme Auto Body, finished in Porsche PTS San Marino Blue Metallic. You’ll find the full spec on John’s “Devil Z” here: eneos.us 1972 TOYOTA CELICA Displayed alongside the 240Z in ENEOS booth #24133 is the first-generation Toyota Celica belonging to veteran racer, Formula DRIFT team manager and engineer, Stephan Papadakis. The barn find-turned-showpiece is Steph’s personal project, which has been chronicled on his popular social media channels, gaining hundreds of thousands of views. The 1972 Celica had been sitting for more than 20 years before Steph discovered it and began his off-season passion project to keep himself busy in between Formula DRIFT competition. The restoration included a bare metal bodywork overhaul, while the rare 18R-G four-cylinder, eight-valve, twin-cam engine was fully rebuilt and bored to 2.2 liters. Lubricated by ENEOS motor oil, it was converted to dual 44 Mikuni PHH side-draft carburetors and runs a Link ECU thanks to a full motorsport-spec wiring harness to enhance reliability. The engine produced 170hp close to its 8000rpm maximum, necessitating four-piston Wilwood big brakes front and rear. Steph significantly upgraded the suspension using JRZ dampers, Techno Toy Tuning front spindles and tension control rods, Annex Suspension caster and camber plates, four-link rear suspension and panhard bar. Steph was able to increase wheel and tire widths thanks to TRD-style fender flares, which were produced by Toy Garage along with a lip spoiler and rear wing to enhance the Celica’s road presence. The new fenders accommodate custom 15” three-piece wheels inspired by Tom’s heritage design. For anybody unfamiliar with Stephan Papadakis, he established an unbeatable reputation in Import Drag Racing, building the first front-wheel-drive, tube-chassis drag car. He then set records with the world’s fastest FWD and RWD Hondas, the first import driver to break 6sec, and the first to exceed 180mph. Steph was the 1999 SEMA Import Racer of the Year, 2000 NIRA Pro Comp Champion, 2001 NIRA Pro FWD Champion and IDRC Outlaw Class Champion. Joining Formula DRIFT in 2004, Papadakis Racing has won the PRO Championship in 2007 and 2008 with Tanner Foust driving, as well as 2015, 2021 and 2022 with Fredric Aasbo at the wheel of the 1200hp Toyota GR Supra. During the interim years, Papadakis cars have placed in the top three on numerous occasions, and Steph himself has been voted Formula Drift Team Manager of the Year several times. The Papadakis Racing Rockstar Energy / Toyota Racing GR Supra has been a regular podium contender using ENEOS motor and gear oils. Steph also uses ENEOS lubricants in all his personal projects, including the 1972 Toyota Celica. You’ll find the full spec on Steph’s Celica here: eneos.us 1960 RENAULT DAUPHINE As the winner of the 2024 ENEOS x Pit+Paddock Show Car Contest, 20-year Navy veteran Justin Cashmore was invited to display his car outdoors at SEMA. Having retired in 2019, he found time to “build stuff I like in the best way I can.” Stationed in Japan, Italy, Florida, and California, he found inspiration in automotive trends around the world, which he’s been able to translate into various builds, including his extraordinary Renault. Justin “pulled the car out of the desert” in 2017 and it became a Hot Wheels Legends Tour Finalist in 2019. It’s since been featured by Stanceworks, Autopia LA, Hoonigan and Avants before being chosen as our winner of the ENEOS x Pit+Paddock Show Car Contest. While the Renault wears its patina with pride, Justin’s Group 5 racing-inspired carbon fiber widebody, which extended the car 22” wider than stock, might distract you from its mid-engined layout. Sitting transversely behind the rear firewall is a 2.8L Volkswagen VR6 24v engine. Thanks to a United Motorsports tune, custom intake and exhaust, the VR6 develops 230hp. The power is transmitted by a VW 02M six-speed transmission with Peloquin limited-slip differential. The driver sits on the right side of the cockpit inside the custom chassis and is protected by a “bumper-to-bumper” rollcage. The chassis allowed Justin to build a custom pushrod/bellcrank suspension system, incorporating NASCAR take-off Schroeder sway bars. The custom fenders accommodate 17” Felgen Factory wheels with extra-wide Toyo R888R rubber and a Wilwood big brake kit. You’ll find the full spec on Justin’s remarkable Dauphine here: eneos.us 1995 TOYOTA SUPRA As a runner-up in the 2024 ENEOS x Pit+Paddock Show Car Contest, Leo Barrit was invited to display his Mk4 Supra JZA80 outdoors at SEMA. Based in San Diego, Leo has owned the car for the last 12 years and used his time productively to build it to an incredible specification. The highlights included a fully rebuilt 2JZ-GTE VVTi engine, which was stroked to 3.3L with a Brian Crower billet crank, 272 cams, gears, and a Ferrea valvetrain, featuring custom Hypertune cam covers, intake manifold, and fuel rail. Fitted with a custom twin-turbo setup, it uses BorgWarner EFR 7163 turbos, Turbosmart internal wastegates and blow-off valves, plus a custom manifold and hand-welded titanium piping. In this state, the engine develops more than 1100hp. The Supra features a unique Varis widebody kit that blends Ridox fenders with Solid and Joker aero pieces. It’s complemented by a Varis carbon fiber hood, canards and GT wing. Advan RZ-DF2 wheels were wrapped in Toyo Proxes R888R tires, while Brembo GT-S six-piston monobloc front calipers and four-piston rears were hard anodized black and provide optimal braking. The Supra has KW V3 coilovers with Stanceparts air cups to provide driveway clearance. The interior features period-correct Recaro Tomcat seats in yellow Kevlar fabric with matching rears. There’s also a matching steering wheel and Alcantara headliner, both with hand-stitched yellow accents. The sound system utilizes an Alpine ILX-507 head unit and Focal Flax EVO speakers plus a 10" JL subwoofer in a custom enclosure powered by a Focal amp. You’ll find the full spec on Leo’s mouthwatering Supra here: eneos.us TEAM ENEOS FORMULA DRIFT AUTOGRAPH SESSION WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 6, 2PM ENEOS BOOTH #24133 IN CENTRAL HALL All 2024 SEMA Show attendees are invited to join Team ENEOS for an autograph session featuring its Formula DRIFT driver line-up including: ● Fredric Aasbo – three-time Formula DRIFT PRO Champion ● Dai Yoshihara – ENEOS ambassador and 2011 FD PRO Champion ● Odi Bakchis – Team Feal owner and 2024 FD PRO runner-up ● Simen Olsen – 2024 Team Feal FD PRO driver ● Faruk Kugay – FD PROSPEC driver and ENEOS ambassador ● Stephan Papadakis – owner and team manager of Papadakis Racing ● Hana Burton – ENEOS ambassador and driver ENEOS NEW PRODUCTS As a global R&D partner and technology innovator for many of the world’s automotive manufacturers, ENEOS constantly strives to provide applications for emerging transportation developments in line with global lubricant market trends. Making its debut at SEMA 2024 are four products in the ENEOS EV/Hybrid Line. The first is e-Axle Fluid, which was developed specifically for e-axles on electrified vehicles. This breakthrough formulation uses state-of-the-art ENEOS base oil technology to provide superior thermal and oxidation breakdown resistance compared to traditional ATF or Gear Oil. The low viscosity e-axle Fluid flows better at low temperatures than conventional oils, further improving energy efficiency. Additionally, ENEOS will introduce its new 50/50 Antifreeze/Coolant, which is a high-performance, extended life antifreeze with high heat transfer capability specifically designed for the cooling systems of EV, Hybrid, and Plug-in-Hybrid (PHEV) vehicles, as well as all types of diesels, gasoline and NG/LPG Internal Combustion Engines. The ENEOS Super Extended Life coolant offers its latest Hybrid Organic Acid Technology (HOAT) formulation. Designed for complete protection for all cooling systems and designed to cool electronic components with non-depleting corrosion inhibitors and maintenance-free protection. There are three formulations available, differentiated by Pink, Blue and Green coloring, with specific applications for vehicles from the major electric vehicle OEMs and a wider range of hybrid vehicles. More information on the ENEOS EV/Hybrid Line is available at eneos.us EDITOR’S NOTE Images of the ENEOS booth vehicles are available here: dropbox.com/scl/fo/j3hylpzkvz2bg0immz9b9/ACIADzQx0ctt0JdlBe9puUU?rlkey=5jr89zd9pvz2o05xy3wu5362f&dl=0 You’ll find this release, complete with full tech spec on all four cars at eneos.us ABOUT ENEOS MOTOR OIL Established in 1888 and headquartered in Tokyo, ENEOS is Japan’s largest oil company, with manufacturing and sales facilities throughout the world. With a unique position in its home market, ENEOS has worked with Asia’s automakers and leading race teams for decades, creating advanced lubricants with their vehicle engineers to provide optimum fuel economy with maximum power and long-term protection. ENEOS also recently announced availability of a new 0W-8 motor oil for future vehicle applications including the latest hybrid technology. For more information, please visit eneos.us Contact Details Greg Emmerson greg@theidagency.com Company Website https://www.eneos.us

November 04, 2024 06:07 AM Pacific Standard Time

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Navigating Market Volatility: Cboe Launches Options On VIX Futures

Benzinga

By CBOE Cboe Global Markets, Inc. (CBOE: CBOE) is taking the world of options trading by storm. Not only did they recently launch options on Cboe Volatility Index Futures (VX Options), a new solution that offers more choices for expressing directional views and managing equity market volatility exposure, they also just announced at the HOOD Summit in Miami, FL on Oct. 17, that Robinhood customers would be able to trade index options – including Cboe's flagship S&P 500 Index (SPX ® ) options, Cboe Volatility Index (VIX ® ) options, Russell 2000 Index (RUT ® ) options, and Mini SPX (XSP ® ) options – on the brokerage firm's platform. This expands their trading capabilities while also potentially meeting the rising investor demand for options trading. Demand for options trading has risen among retail and institutional investors seeking tools to manage risk and capture market opportunities. As reported by the Options Clearing Corporation, in 2023, total U.S. options volumes exceeded 11 billion contracts, marking the fourth consecutive year of record volumes and a 126% increase since 2019. The average daily volume this year through the third quarter of 2024 was 47 million contracts, an 8% increase compared to the same period last year. Against this backdrop, the launch of Options on Cboe Volatility Index Futures expands Cboe’s ecosystem of tradable volatility products, potentially enabling investors to better understand the volatility in which the market is pricing. Options On Cboe Volatility Index Futures Explained Options on futures are contracts that represent the right, not the obligation, to either buy (go long) or sell (go short) a particular underlying futures contract at a specified price on or before a specified date, the expiration date. Regarding Cboe’s recently launched product, VX Options are options on VX futures. VX futures are cash-settled futures on the Cboe Volatility Index (VIX ® Index) listed for trading on the Cboe Futures Exchange, LLC (CFE). VX Options have European-style exercise, are physically settled, and have PM settlement; most options on futures expire at the close of the market on the last trading day. The VX futures contract that underlies a VX Options contract is the front-month VX futures contract relative to the expiration date of the VX Options contract. The Value Proposition Of Options On Cboe Volatility Index Futures The creation of this new Cboe product provides increased optionality for investors. A primary benefit of this new solution is that it could provide more “mid-curve style” exposure, facilitating a new and different payout profile than what is currently available in the exchange-traded derivatives space. The mid-curve style exposure of VX options will also allow investors to take short-term views on the movement of forward volatility, resulting in a secondary benefit - increased liquidity. This is because VX Options will provide shorter-dated VIX exposure, for which the underlying is the front month VX future, generally the most liquid VX future. In-the-money options are settled into the front-month VIX futures contract which enables more precise delta management. Finally, trading data from VX Options should yield new insights into the volatility-of-volatility term structure, which measures how uncertain the future volatility of an asset's price is expected to be. Having this information thereby enhances risk management efficiency across the entire market. Enhancing The Marketplace With Innovation The launch of Options on Cboe Volatility Index Futures appears to demonstrate innovation within the VIX ecosystem, particularly in enhancing the diversity and efficiency of trading strategies. In speaking about the launch of this new product offering, Catherine Clay, Global Head of Derivatives at Cboe, has stated, “Investors have long utilized VIX options and VIX futures to help hedge and manage volatility exposure, and Cboe is proud to expand our volatility product suite at such a critical time. With its options-on-futures structure, the new Options on VIX Futures will look to meet growing customer demand as Cboe works to provide an efficient and seamless experience to both existing and new CFE market participants. The launch will complement our existing volatility offerings, including the recently launched Cboe S&P 500 Variance futures, and enable more investors with the ability to help manage volatility and risk through the election season and beyond.” As investors become more knowledgeable and sophisticated in using derivative instruments, their demand for products, like Options on Cboe Volatility Index Futures, could continue to increase. To accompany their product innovations, Cboe also has the Cboe Options Institute, which has been a leader in options education for more than 35 years. It has a vast library of resources, including free online courses, webinars, interactive tutorials and insights from top market experts and academics, all tailored to help retail traders – whether beginners or seasoned investors – enhance their understanding of index options and build the knowledge they need to trade confidently. Featured photo by Tyler Prahm on Unsplash Benzinga is a leading financial media and data provider, known for delivering accurate, timely, and actionable financial information to empower investors and traders. This post contains sponsored content. This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be investing advice Contact Details Benzinga +1 877-440-9464 info@benzinga.com Company Website http://www.benzinga.com

October 29, 2024 08:30 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Nonprofit Photo Contest: Nonprofits Can Win $5000 in Cash Donations

Nonprofits Insurance Alliance

A photo contest specifically for nonprofit organizations offers nonprofits a chance to win a total of $5000 in cash donations for the 25 winning photos. The grand prize is a $1000 donation. The first, the largest, and the most popular photo contest exclusively for 501(c)(3) nonprofits (as far as we know) is back! Sponsored by Nonprofits Insurance Alliance (NIA), the 2024 NIA Nonprofit Photo Contest is calling for nonprofits to share their best photo for this year’s theme: Community in Focus. 25 total winners will be selected: $1000 Best of Show (1 winner) $500 Standing Ovation (4 winners) $100 Spotlight (20 winners) The contest is open to both NIA member nonprofits and any U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofit that subscribes to Blue Avocado, a free online magazine for nonprofits. Entries will be accepted online through Nov. 10, 2024. Winning entries will be determined by a combination of popular voting and a review by an internal panel of NIA judges. Participating organizations are permitted to conduct independent outreach to encourage voting support among their constituents. The public voting period will run online at NIA from Nov. 11 to 22, 2024. Winners will be announced on Dec. 10, 2024. One entry per eligible nonprofit. Photos that are blatantly promotional and depict a brand or products of commercial value will be disqualified, as will AI-generated images or photos that have been altered or combined with other images or text. Photos must be appropriate for all audiences. When applicable, a signed photo release form is required. Visit insurancefornonprofits.org/photo-contest for a complete list of contest rules and conditions. About Nonprofits Insurance Alliance Nonprofits Insurance Alliance (NIA) is the nation’s leading property and casualty insurer exclusively serving nonprofit organizations. Founded in 1989 in Santa Cruz, CA, NIA is a social enterprise developing the long-term sustainability of the nonprofit sector. NIA has one of the best customer retention rates in the industry. NIA members enjoy fair and equitable insurance prices, specialized coverage, and innovative risk management and member services. The NIA brand is comprised of Alliance Member Services (AMS) and three AM Best A (Excellent) rated insurers: Nonprofits Insurance Alliance of California (NIAC) Alliance of Nonprofits for Insurance, RRG (ANI) National Alliance of Nonprofits for Insurance (NANI) All organizations under the NIA brand are 501(c)(3) nonprofits. Learn more about Nonprofits Insurance Alliance at insurancefornonprofits.org. Contact Details NIA Marketing & Communications editor@insurancefornonprofits.org Company Website https://insurancefornonprofits.org

October 22, 2024 10:28 AM Pacific Daylight Time

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Infinity Fuel Cell and Hydrogen, Inc. (Infinity) Announces Closing of Regulation CF Round and Major Company Milestones

Infinity Fuel

Infinity Fuel Cell and Hydrogen, Inc. is announcing the close of its Regulation Crowdfunding (CF) round on October 25 at midnight PDT. Investors will now have days left to join Infinity as they envision a future powered by hydrogen regenerative fuel cells. The company has accomplished much in very little time, with $50M+ in contracts with the US Navy, NASA, and other major military and commercial space partners. Latest Milestones for Infinity Fuel and Hydrogen, Inc. According to Infinity’s CEO, William F. Smith, the company’s work represents “an essential electrical power option for both NASA and commercial spaceflight customers as we enter a new era of long-duration flights and lunar surface missions.” Some key achievements include: Enhancing fuel cell systems for the Navy’s Uncrewed Underwater Vehicles (UUVs) by upgrading hardware. Shipping a second PEM Hydrogen Fuel Cell stack to a commercial customer. Completing a 500-hour lunar fuel cell life test and initiating a 5,000 hour test with NASA, validating the technology. Infinity’s goal is to power space, land, sea, and air vehicles in the coming years to address markets valued at over $19.4B. Familiar Faces Backing Hydrogen Leaders from across industries are affirming the potential of fuel cells. William Clay Ford, Jr., Executive Chair of Ford Motor Company (and great-grandson of Henry Ford), even stated, "Fuel cells could end the reign of the combustion engine." William Shatner, actor and climate activist and Infinity’s newest Brand Ambassador and Advisory Committee member, noted “Fuel cells and Electrolyzers such as those produced by Infinity Fuel Cell & Hydrogen, offer a promising path towards meeting a variety of crucial energy needs…the positive trends in today’s renewable energy market represent a silent revolution that can power our journey to the stars, while preserving the very planet that has allowed mankind to evolve towards dreaming its current dreams.”* The Infinity Fuel Investment Deadline Is 10/25 With Infinity Fuel's funding round closing on October 25th, don’t miss this opportunity to become a shareholder as they revolutionize the energy industry with an “infinite” fuel cell that turns hydrogen into water and back again. Learn more and invest in Infinity Fuel Cell and Hydrogen here. Founded in 2002, Infinity Fuel Cell and Hydrogen, Inc. is a market leader in the design and manufacture of air-independent, zero-gravity electrochemical systems including fuel cell electrolyzer systems for space and underwater applications. Infinity is also developing advanced electrolysis technologies that can generate hydrogen and oxygen directly at 2000 psi and above. This is a paid advertisement for Infinity Fuel Cell and Hydrogen, Inc. Reg CF offering. Please read the offering circular at https://invest.infinityfuel.com/.*Section 17(b) disclosure. Mr. Shatner is compensated as an Infinity advisor at $10K/month. He also has received options to purchase up to 100K shares vesting over 9 months at an $8.00/share strike price. Contact Details Infinity Fuel Investor Relations +1 860-688-6500 ir@infinityfuel.com Company Website https://invest.infinityfuel.com/

October 22, 2024 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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VF Developments Completes 920 Everett Street, a Newly Renovated Multifamily Property in the Chinatown Area of Los Angeles, California, with Three-Bedroom Units to the Market

Rev Up Marketers

VF Developments, LLC, a minority and female owned and run company, has completed unit reconfigurations and renovations on two- and three-bedroom units at “920 Everett”, a 2000s built modern style multifamily property. The community is located in the highly desirable Victor Heights neighborhood in Los Angeles, California. Victor Heights is a hillside area just north of the city of Los Angeles and near Chinatown with sweeping views of downtown LA. The apartment homes are featured on the property manager Drake Real Estate Group’s website - https://www.drakereg.com/for-lease. Victoria Vu, a renowned designer and Managing Partner of VF Developments, LLC carefully designed and restored the rental homes. Ms. Vu was formerly a leading Halloween costume designer and is a graduate of the prestigious Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising. All units have stunning views of the Downtown Los Angeles skyline. These luxury rental homes feature keyless entry door locks to spacious two- and three- bedroom floor plans with newly modernized kitchens, bathrooms and in-unit washer and dryers. The kitchens boast white stone quartz countertops with brand new self-closing cabinetry and high-end stainless-steel Whirlpool refrigerators with matching gas cooktop with oven and microwave. Bathrooms have been enhanced with new bathtubs and glass shower doors with designer touches. The apartment homes are separately metered with 10 onsite parking spaces. 920 Everett Street has a Walk Score of 87 out of 100 - a Very Walkable location so most errands can be accomplished on foot. This location is in the Greater Echo Park Elysian neighborhood in Los Angeles. James Kemple, general contractor for VF Developments, LLC, completed the interior renovations. He noted “We have worked very hard to renovate these units to offer to our new incoming residents. We enjoyed the transforming these units into modern day living spaces. The team that completed the renovations on the units were entirely locally based minority vendors, employees, and contractors. We are proud to create jobs in the Chinatown area for minorities, significantly improve the community, and provide more affordable housing.” This downtown Los Angeles modern two-story garden walkup in Victor Heights has six spacious two- and three-bedroom two bath units. Victor Heights is a small hillside neighborhood in downtown LA located east of Echo Park, northeast of Angeleno Heights, southwest of Elysian Park, and northwest of Chinatown. Located just down the street from Everett Park and around the corner from The Elysian, a William Pereira-designed mid-century office building repurposed and transformed with 91 luxury live/work suites and two-story penthouses. Victor Heights is bounded by Sunset Boulevard on the south, 110 freeway and Chinatown on the east, Stadium Way on the north, and Marview Avenue on the west. A video of the community and location can be seen here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3RowFLnvR4&t=20s Victoria Vu commented, “We are excited to complete the renovation on 920 Everett Street, bring the property to market, and lease it up to provide much needed affordable housing to the city of Los Angeles. We just hit the market for preleasing and have experienced incredible interest. We also plan to build an ADU (accessory dwelling unit) building in the large parking area with a very affordable rent. As a first generation American we strive to enhance the communities around us and create modern living spaces for our residents.” VF Developments, LLC acquired the Los Angeles multifamily property located at 920 Everett Street, Los Angeles, California with the plan of repositioning and adding capital improvements. Originally built in 2000, VF Development's improvements included enhancements to exterior redesign to enhance the simple clean lines of modern architecture. These improvements include new wood exterior façade, new exterior paint, landscaping with bright white rocks and succulents and completely restored and upgraded interior finishes. Kim Vu added, “We are excited to complete this major apartment renovation in the Chinatown area of Los Angeles and bring these units to market to welcome in our new residents. The apartment homes are high-quality finished with the added convenience of in-unit washer and dryers. Plus, the views of the downtown Los Angeles are spectacular with everything that LA has to offer being a very short drive or walk away.” About VF Developments: VF Developments, minority and female owned and run company, has acquired over $69 million in multifamily properties since 2015 totaling 40 properties and 256 units with many around USC and Downtown LA. These stunning building transformations are featured here on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vfdevelopments. VF Developments strives to provide neighborhoods in gentrifying areas of Los Angeles and Orange County Class A building design finishes at accessible and affordable market rents to future tenants. VF prides itself with the opportunity to create modern living to add value to its communities. With properties ranging from condominiums to multifamily residences in gentrifying areas throughout the greater Los Angeles area and Orange County region. VF manages a multitude of processes including finding unique, off market opportunities, syndicating properties, overseeing renovations, and using unique architecture and interior compositions transforming distressed properties into contemporary, market-ready homes and apartment communities. VF seeks value add investment opportunities and creates significant value for clients and investors. VF Developments is an entrepreneurial company specializing in acquiring, renovating, and managing multifamily properties in Los Angeles and Orange Counties. The company targets under-performing and mismanaged multifamily properties in gentrifying areas of these counties. VF also completes significant renovations that modernize and transform dated properties into cutting edge, high quality, best in class living environments - ultimately creating substantial value enhancement for its investors. Videos of the stunning communities can be seen here - https://www.youtube.com/@vf-developments Contact Details VF Developments, LLC Victoria V. Vu victoria@vf-developments.com Company Website https://vf-developments.com/

October 16, 2024 09:40 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Sergiy Groza and Volodymyr Naumenko sentenced to prison by English High Court Judge

Argentem Creek Partners

Sergiy Groza and Volodymyr Naumenko, former ultimate beneficial owners of GN Terminal Enterprises, sentenced to 21 months in prison by English High Court judge, Mr. Justice Bryan. Groza and Naumenko breached an asset disclosure order, made in support of a worldwide freezing order (“WFO”). London, UK, 15 October 2024 – The former ultimate beneficial owners (“UBO”) of the Ukrainian import-export business GN Terminal Enterprises (“GNT”), Sergiy Groza and Volodymyr Naumenko, have been sentenced to 21 months in prison by a judge of the English High Court for failing to comply with a worldwide freezing order (“WFO”). Groza and Naumenko were found to be in contempt of court by Mr Justice Bryan during a committal hearing on Friday, 30th August for breaching an asset disclosure order made in support of the WFO, before being sentenced on Friday 4 th October 2024. The disclosure order was made in April 2024, pursuant to the US$118 million English High Court WFO over Groza and Naumenko’s assets, in order for Madison Pacific Trust Limited to be able to police Groza and Naumenko’s compliance with the WFO. But the Ukrainian businessmen actively refused not to comply with the disclosure order, which has ultimately led to their committal for contempt of court (to the criminal burden of proof) and them being sentenced to prison. Groza attended the sentencing hearing remotely, but did not respond when asked by the Judge if he wished to say anything in his defence, despite being given the use of a Ukrainian translator, while Naumenko did not appear at all. Mr Justice Bryan issued warrants of committal for Groza and Naumenko meaning they will be arrested when they next set foot in the United Kingdom. Nicholas Cherryman, a barrister instructed by Groza and Naumenko only the night before the hearing, requested an adjournment which was rejected by Mr Justice Bryan. The judge condemned the late appointment of lawyers (which was only notified to the court an hour before the sanction hearing commenced) as “the hallmarks of a last minute ploy to secure an adjournment.” Groza and Naumenko are represented by Fortior Law SA, Solsidus Law, Appleby and M.B. Kemp LLP in various proceedings around the world. The WFO was originally obtained by Madison Pacific on behalf of GNT’s secured lenders, Argentem Creek Partners (“ACP”) and Innovatus Capital Partners (“Innovatus”), in January 2023. It was upheld after an unsuccessful challenge by Groza and Naumenko in February 2024. The presiding judge, Mr Justice Jacobs, stated that he was concerned about the “very real risk of dissipation [of assets].” He added that the asset dissipation case is “one where the evidence is as strong as any that I have ever seen.” The disclosure order required Groza and Naumenko to provide further information about US$97 million of dividends received over a 10-year period from their shareholding in GNT; nominees holding their assets; and funding of their legal fees in these and related proceedings via Waylink Assets, a company owned by Groza. Mr Justice Bryan, Judge of the Commercial Court, noted in his sentencing that “I am satisfied that the Claimant continues to suffer very real prejudice as every day goes by when the Defendants continue to fail to comply with the Disclosure Order the very purpose of which is to police the freezing injunction.” He also noted that an 80-page witness statement submitted by Naumenko shortly before the committal hearing highlighted “the lengths to which [Groza and Naumenko] have gone to fight and, the Claimants would say, seek to frustrate, the Claimant's debt enforcement steps around the world.” He also referred back to the "fierce resistance" Mr Justice Jacobs found in his judgment upholding the WFO. Daniel Chapman, CEO and founder of Argentem Creek Partners, commented: “Any entity, private or public, which is working with Groza and Naumenko should stop conducting business with these bad actors. Case after case in Ukraine and across the world have laid out the truth: Groza and Naumenko are flagrantly breaking the law and ignoring court orders. With them now being sentenced to prison in England, it is the time for legitimate businesses and local government entities alike to truly stand up for the rule of law. Facilitating unlawful behavior cannot be tolerated at any level.” John Patton, Head of EMEA & Asia at Argentem Creek Partners, said: "This is a step toward justice. The decision by the English High Court reinforces that Sergiy Groza and Volodymyr Naumenko have continued to break the law for personal gain. They have consistently taken deliberate steps to hide and strip their assets from GNT Group and avoid disclosure of any information even when ordered by competent courts. Finally, they are being held responsible for their actions. “At a time when Ukraine needs its companies to pay taxes in full and support the country’s war effort, Groza and Naumenko are hiding millions of dollars offshore, using a company run by Russian citizen, Mikhail Ipatov.” Ana Firmato, Managing Director at Innovatus, added: “Justice Bryan’s decision is clear and unequivocal. Sergiy Groza and Volodymyr Naumenko have consistently and deliberately exploited the law for personal and financial gain, and this sentencing holds them accountable for their repeated wrongdoing. We appreciate the support of the English High Court and look forward to bringing the former ultimate beneficial owners of GNT to justice." In 2019, ACP provided a US$75 million loan to GNT Group under a secured English law facility agreement. This loan benefits from security over the majority of GNT's assets and guarantees from most of GNT's subsidiaries, as well as personal guarantees from Groza and Naumenko. In January 2021, GNT also obtained a US$20 million working capital facility from Innovatus. GNT repeatedly failed to pay interest on these two loans and failed to repay them at their maturity date in December 2021. When the creditors began to investigate why they were failing to reimburse their debts, an asset dissipation scheme worth millions was revealed. This revelation caused the creditors to enforce to protect their position. The criminal sentencing in the UK is separate to ongoing criminal investigations into fraud and asset stripping alleged to have been undertaken by Groza, Naumenko and certain of their associates including Serbian Dusan Denic and Russian Mikhail Ipatov. Denic is also facing a civil fraud case in New York arising out of his part in the scheme. ENDS Notes to editors: You can find the full judgement here. About Argentem Creek Partners Argentem Creek Partners is an emerging markets specialist investment firm committed to delivering value for investors and partners. The firm seeks to deliver uncorrelated emerging market alpha by investing in special situations, private credit, high yield, trade finance, and bespoke capital solutions. Argentem Creek was founded in 2015 by Daniel Chapman and his former team from Cargill, Inc. subsidiary, Black River Asset Management. https://www.argentemcreek.com About Innovatus Capital Partners, LLC Innovatus Capital Partners, LLC is a New York based registered investment adviser and portfolio management firm with over US$1.8B in assets under management; focused on creating value across special situations, emergent asset classes, private credit and asset-based investments. Innovatus adheres to an investment strategy that identifies disruptive and growth opportunities across multiple asset categories with a unifying theme of capital preservation, income generation, and upside optionality. The Firm has a dedicated team of agriculture finance investment professionals with deep experience in emerging market lending and a strong network of relationships across local contacts and industry participants. www.innovatuscp.com Contact Details Argentem Creek Partners media@argentemcreek.com media@argentemcreek.com Company Website https://www.argentemcreek.com/

October 15, 2024 04:24 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Equality CA Presents 2024 Community Leadership Award to Greg Sarris

Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria

Equality CA, the nation’s largest statewide LGBTQ+ civil rights organization, presented Tribal Chairman Greg Sarris with their annual Community Leadership Award at their gala in Los Angeles. The award celebrates Chairman Sarris’ longtime service to equal rights, and was presented by California State Treasurer, Fiona Ma. In presenting the award, Ma commented, “I'm thrilled to present honoree Dr. Greg Sarris, whose activism and philanthropic efforts over many years have improved the lives of so many. He has also been incredibly generous in supporting LGBTQ causes and uplifting underrepresented communities.” Chairman Sarris commented, “In Los Angeles this past Saturday, I was presented with the Community Leadership Award from Equality, California. I accepted this award on behalf of and in recognition of my wonderful Tribe, the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria. Our Tribal Council has generously supported not just Equality California but a host of other organizations and causes in line with our mission of social justice and environmental leadership. This particular honor was special to me. I believe service to others and the larger world is needed now more than ever, and certainly is in line with the beliefs and life ways of our Southern Pomo and Coast Miwok ancestors. Whether university teaching for over 35 years, Tribal leadership for over 30 years and writing several books with the hope of educating others, I’ve lived my best moments in service. Thank you, Tribal Council and all Tribal Citizens of Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria, thank you students and book publishers for enabling me to live my best life.” About the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria Graton Rancheria is a federally recognized Indian tribe comprised of Coast Miwok and Southern Pomo Indians. Legislation restoring federal recognition to the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria was signed into law in December 2000. Tribal lands are located in Rohnert Park, Sonoma County, CA. For more information about FIGR, visit www.gratonrancheria.com. Contact Details Landis Communications Inc. Brianne Miller +1 415-766-0887 graton@landispr.com Company Website https://gratonrancheria.com/

October 08, 2024 01:41 PM Pacific Daylight Time

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