Xlife increases net profit to 21.2 million Swiss francs

ZURICH-Thursday 1 April 2021 [ AETOS Wire ]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- In 2020, Xlife Sciences AG (XLS) significantly increased its profit to 21.2 million Swiss francs compared to the previous year (1.03 million). The increase is based on the transaction and the capital appreciation of the portfolio companies Velabs Therapeutics and Araxa Biosciences. For the current year, the management expects again a significant increase in profits. For 2021, two exits and an IPO are planned for 2022.

Xlife Sciences AG looks back on a very successful 2020. With a lean cost structure of approximately 3.2 million Swiss Francs (2020: 1.5 million) as a result of the transaction and capital appreciation of Velabs and Araxa with a net profit of 21.2 million Swiss Francs. This is a very good financial result, which reflects the intrinsic value and the potential of our project portfolio, says Oliver R. Baumann, CEO of Xlife. The capit ... Read more »

DEERFIELD, Ill. & ATLANTA -Thursday 1 April 2021 [ AETOS Wire ]

Walgreens to offer new bank account with Mastercard debit card leveraging InComm Payments’ platform

InComm Payments to enhance Walgreens-branded gift card program

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Walgreens today announced an agreement with InComm Payments, a leading global payments technology company, to provide convenient and accessible financial services options for its customers. Together, the companies will launch a new bank account offering for its customers to be established at MetaBank* with a Mastercard debit card that will serve Walgreens shoppers both in-store and online and allow them to earn myWalgreens Cash rewards on all purchases as part of the new myWalgreens customer loyalty program launched in November 2020.

This agreement is part of Walgreens’ alternative profit strategy and recently announced broader initiative to launch new financial products and services that reinfo ... Read more »

OSAKA, Japan-Wednesday 31 March 2021 [ AETOS Wire ]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (TSE:4502/NYSE:TAK) (“Takeda”) today announced the completion of its previously-announced sale of a portfolio of select products to Orifarm Group (“Orifarm”) for a total value of up to $670 million USD. The portfolio includes approximately 130 over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription pharmaceutical products sold in Europe, and two manufacturing sites located in Denmark and Poland. This divestment agreement was first announced in April 2020.

The divested portfolio includes OTC products and food supplements, plus select products within the Cardiovascular, Anti-inflammatory, Respiratory, and Endocrinology therapeutic areas, primarily sold in Denmark, Norway, Belgium, Poland, Finland, Sweden, the Baltics and Austria. The portfolio generated FY2020 net sales of approximately $240 million USD, driven by sales of cough/cold and vitamin OTC brand ... Read more »

Iconic premium gin will be first major brand made with 100% sustainably-sourced botanicals

HAMILTON, Bermuda-Wednesday 31 March 2021 [ AETOS Wire ]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- After decades spent carefully building sustainable partnerships with farmers and suppliers, BOMBAY SAPPHIRE, the iconic premium gin from family-owned Bacardi Limited, is proud to announce that all 10 of its botanical ingredients are on track to be certified sustainable in 2021. With the suppliers of eight already certified according to the For Life standard, the goal is for the remaining two producers – for grains of paradise from Ghana and liquorice from China – to be certified in the months which follow the lifting of travel restrictions.

This news is a major step towards Bacardi, the largest privately-held spirits company in the world, achieving its 2025 goal of sourcing 100% of its key ingredients from sustainably certified suppliers.

The 10 botanicals, which include junip ... Read more »

• Award will recognize extraordinary efforts of government leaders to face the pandemic

Dubai, United Arab Emirates-Wednesday 31 March 2021 [ AETOS Wire ]

The World Government Summit (WGS) Announced an exceptional edition of Best Minister Award to recognize prominent leaders from around the world who contributed to humanity and made notable achievements during a challenging year following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mohammad Abdullah Al Gergawi, UAE Minister of Cabinet Affairs and Chairman of World Government Summit Organization, said: “Governments around the world have been compelled to reshuffle their priorities and plans to take instant and timely decisions to keep pace with the changes and mitigate the risks and consequences of the pandemic on their societies. Governments need now to demonstrate agility and resilience in preparing for recovery and future challenges through adopting innovation and cutting-edge technology across all s ... Read more »

• Thales and Inetum provide joint expertise to deliver greater security and convenience at the airports of Valencia and Bilbao, and before long at Fuerteventura.

• Smart accesses improve the border control process with higher agility and security.

• New system facilitates operations for the officers of the National Police

MADRID-Wednesday 31 March 2021 [ AETOS Wire ]

(BUSINESS WIRE) -- Thales, leader in digital security, and Inetum, European leader in digital services and solutions, provide the airports of Valencia and Bilbao with more than 45 Automatic Border Control gates (ABC Gates) leveraging facial recognition and automatic document verification. Thales is responsible for the identity verification and smart access control, while Inetum implements manual verifiers and the real-time monitoring system. Both companies collaborated on the integration and installation in the airports.

These new smart access points have already be ... Read more »

Barry Brings a Strong Background of Strategic Business Leadership and Technology Innovation

IRVINE, Calif. & EVERETT, Wash.-Wednesday 31 March 2021 [ AETOS Wire ]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Advanced Sterilization Products (ASP), a global leader in infection prevention and a wholly owned operating company of Fortive Corporation (NYSE: FTV), has named Aisha Barry the new president of ASP.

“Aisha’s extensive healthcare background coupled with software and consumer products innovation will help strengthen ASP’s digital expertise, develop strategic alliances, and expand our international sales presence,” said Barbara Hulit, Sr. VP of Fortive’s Advanced Healthcare Solutions segment. “Aisha has a proven track record of developing highly effective organizations, leading to sustained growth. She will build on our current growth trajectory and advance the company’s mission to protect patients during their most critical moments.”

Aisha joins ASP from Phi ... Read more »

WILMINGTON, Del.-Wednesday 31 March 2021 [ AETOS Wire ]

(BUSINESS WIRE) -- The LYCRA Company, a global leader in fiber and textile solutions for the apparel industry, is pleased to announce the launch of its first performance offerings made from 100% textile waste. COOLMAX® and THERMOLITE® EcoMade fibers made from textile waste are the result of a strategic collaboration between The LYCRA Company and ITOCHU Corporation, a general trading company with strength in consumer-related sectors, including the textile business. The new offerings pair the brand equity and performance attributes of these leading cooling and warming brands with the sustainability benefits of textile waste, thus helping address a critical industry need.

“We are pleased to announce our alliance with ITOCHU in helping to address textile waste, which represents a substantial sustainability challenge as the equivalent of one garbage truck of textiles is sent to landfills or incinerated every s ... Read more »

 Despite 80% of organizations running up to 10 different protection and cybersecurity solutions simultaneously, more than 50% of them experienced downtime from data loss last year

Dubai, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES-Wednesday 31 March 2021 [ AETOS Wire ]

Acronis, a global leader in cyber protection, today released the findings of its second annual Cyber Protection Week survey, which uncovered a dangerous disconnect between the need for organizations to keep their data protected and the ineffective investments they’ve made trying to reach that goal.

While 2020 saw companies purchase new systems to enable and secure remote workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, those investments are not paying off. The global survey discovered that 80% of companies now run as many as 10 solutions simultaneously for their data protection and cybersecurity needs – yet more than half of those organizations suffered unexpected downtime last year because of data loss.

< ... Read more »

Simplifies SMB and consumer payments for corporate banks, remitters and fintechs

SAN FRANCISCO-Wednesday 31 March 2021 [ AETOS Wire ]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Visa (NYSE:V) today announced the expansion of Visa Direct, a real-time1 push payments platform, with the introduction of Visa Direct Payouts. The new solution allows Visa’s clients and partners around the world to use a single point of connection to push payments to eligible cards for domestic payouts, and eligible cards and/or accounts for cross-border payments.

“As digital commerce accelerates, Visa is innovating to give financial institutions, governments, individuals and businesses new ways to pay and get paid beyond the card,” said Bill Sheley, SVP, Global Head, Visa Direct, Visa. “The launch of Visa Direct Payouts marks an important milestone in Visa’s expansion of its account-to-account capabilities to now reach an additional 2 billion bank accounts around the world. Backe ... Read more »

FOSTER CITY, Calif.-Wednesday 31 March 2021 [ AETOS Wire ]

(BUSINESS WIRE) -- MATRIXX Software, a global leader in 5G monetization for the communications industry, today announced it has partnered with Orange Romania to provide its digital commerce platform to YOXO, Orange’s first all-digital mobile brand in the region. YOXO, built in just one year with a team of 15 people, has experienced impressive traction in the market, boasting a 90% customer recommendation rate, 3x sales growth and an NPS score triple that of the average mobile operator.

Officially launched in September 2020, YOXO was first conceived by Orange Romania as a way to reach a burgeoning, emerging customer segment comprised of young, cost-conscious digital natives who shun the idea of long-term contract commitments. With a goal to be first to market, Orange selected the MATRIXX Digital Commerce Platform to build a flexible, agile service capable of delivering real-time innovation to meet ever- ... Read more »

TOKYO-Wednesday 31 March 2021 [ AETOS Wire ]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Vietnam is a nation that has seen its share of turmoil and suffering over the past century, and emerged from it with strength, enthusiasm, dedicated to progress and self-sufficiency. Over the past 50 years its participation on the global stage has steadily risen, with ever-increased attention to commerce, health, and education.

A recently released study on the efficacy of House Wellness Foods’ Feed LP20® in combating piscine disease factors can be seen as a glimmer of light along the pathway to Vietnam’s bright future.

As much as 35% of Vietnam’s aquacultural activity is built around river farming of the juvenile striped catfish [Pangasianodon hypophthalmus], making it the world’s largest producer of this nutritious staple, not only for its own consumption but for export to China, Europe, and elsewhere.

Vietnam’s story is one of many that expose the dual e ... Read more »

NEW YORK -Wednesday 31 March 2021 [ AETOS Wire ]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- DC Administration Services, Inc. has today announced the composition of five regional Determinations Committees (DCs), effective from April 29, 2021.

Voting Dealers (for all regions):...


Voting Non-Dealers (for all regions):

Bank of America N.A.


AllianceBernstein L.P.

Barclays Bank plc


Cyrus Capital Partners, L.P.

BNP Paribas


Citadel LLC

Citibank, N.A.


Elliott Management Corporation

Credit Suisse International


Pacific Investment Management Co., LLC

Deutsche Bank AG




Goldman Sachs International




JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.





Voting Dealer for the Americas, EMEA, and Japan
Determination Committees ... Read more »

SAN FRANCISCO-Wednesday 31 March 2021 [ AETOS Wire ]

(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Andersen Global enters a Collaboration Agreement with Kyrgyzstan-based law firm Satarov, Askarov & Partners, extending its geographic coverage in Central Asia.

Satarov, Askarov & Partners, founded in 2010, specializes in international arbitration and foreign investment, providing services to individuals, local businesses, foreign companies and government institutions. With an office in Bishkek, the full-service law firm offers a wide range of commercial legal services including corporate M&A, debt finance, natural resources, anti-monopoly and competition, taxation and tax litigation, international trade, customs and criminal law.

“High-quality client services will always be a high priority,” Managing Director Anvar Askarov said. “Our extensive experience and knowledge of the market enable us to deliver best-in-class solutions, and we are committed to expanding ... Read more »