JEFFERIES ANNOUNCES CO-BRAND PARTNERSHIP WITH REGIS PARTNERS IN THE PHILIPPINES

NEW YORK & HONG KONG & LONDON & MANILA, Philippines, Aug 11 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- Jefferies Hong Kong Limited today announced that it has established a co-brand agreement with Regis Partners, Inc. for the cash equities business in the Philippines. Under the agreement, Jefferies will distribute equity research on companies in The Philippines on a co-branded basis to Jefferies’ global client base. Additionally, Regis Partners will be the main platform to provide local equity broking services to Jefferies.

Regis Partners Inc. (formerly Deutsche Regis Partners Inc.) is one of the largest equity brokerage houses in the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE). Its country-based team offers research, sales, corporate access and trading, and execution services to global and local institutional clients. Regis prides itself on providing cutting edge research and advisory which challenges conventional wisdom and the consensus view.

From its beginnings in 1999, Regis Partners has established itself as the dominant brokerage house in the PSE. It has received numerous awards for Best Equity House and Best Research House from institutions such as Fund Managers Association of the Philippines (FMAP) and from publications including Institutional Investor and Asiamoney.

The partnership with Regis enhances Jefferies’ growing equities franchise in Asia and is another step in Jefferies’ long-term investment in the region. Over the last several years, Jefferies has significantly expanded its business in the region, adding approximately 200 Jefferies employees over the last two years to better serve its global institutional client base.

Murray Wilson, President of Jefferies Asia, commented, “We are pleased to join forces with Regis Partners, Inc. in our commitment to continuously improve and expand Jefferies’ longstanding equity research, sales and trading business with an emphasis on serving the needs of our global investor client base. Regis is consistently recognized as the best-in-class Philippine equities franchise.”

“We at Regis Partners, Inc are very excited to work with the fastest growing equities house in Asia today. Combining Jefferies’ robust global platform and Regis’ “on-the-ground” Philippine expertise should bode well for the foreign and domestic institutional clients we both serve,” commented Noel O. Bautista, Chairman of Regis Partners, Inc.

Jefferies has similar agreements with several firms throughout Asia, including Mandiri Sekuritas in Indonesia, KAF Securities in Malaysia, Mirae Asset Daewoo in South Korea, JB Securities in Sri Lanka, Fubon Securities in Taiwan, Kasikorn Securities in Thailand and Mirae Asset Vietnam in Vietnam. In total, Jefferies and its partner firms cover approximately 1,500 companies, providing clients with robust and comprehensive equity research coverage of regional companies. Jefferies covers over 3,000 companies globally.

Jefferies Group LLC is the largest independent, global, full-service investment banking firm headquartered in the U.S. Focused on serving clients for nearly 60 years, Jefferies is a leader in providing insight, expertise and execution to investors, companies and governments. Our firm provides a full range of investment banking, advisory, sales and trading, research and wealth management services across all products in the Americas, Europe and Asia. Jefferies Group LLC is a wholly owned subsidiary of Jefferies Financial Group Inc. (NYSE: JEF), a diversified financial services company.

 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200810005811/en/ 

Contact

For media inquiries please contact:
Richard Khaleel, +1 212 284 2556, rkhaleel@jefferies.com 

Source : Jefferies Group LLC               

--BERNAMA

UNIPHORE'S CONVERSATIONAL SERVICE AUTOMATION PLATFORM TO BE LEVERAGED FOR WNS' EXPIRIUS

SINGAPORE & PALO ALTO, Calif., Aug 12 (Bernama-BUSINESS WIRE) -- Uniphore, an early leader in Conversational Service Automation, today announced that it will be providing its advanced conversational service automation platform to WNS, a leading Business Process Management (BPM) company, for its recently-launched digital CX Solution, EXPIRIUS.

WNS will leverage Uniphore’s AI and automation capabilities to offer unique digital Customer Experience (CX) solutions integrating human-assisted design and domain expertise through EXPIRIUS.

“The message coming in from customers is loud and clear. They want better experiences. Yet, current economic and societal challenges are preventing organizations from meeting those demands in a cost-effective manner,” said Umesh Sachdev, CEO and co-founder of Uniphore. “WNS’ global expertise and their new CX solution, combined with our AI and Automation-driven technology platform can truly transform the industry.”

“It is our constant endeavour to understand our customer’s domain and co-create impactful solutions that can transform their businesses with agility and excellence. Our promise of outperformance stems from our deep domain expertise, partnership approach and a global delivery network,” said Keshav Murugesh, Group CEO, WNS. “We will be able to further strengthen our customer service capabilities with Uniphore’s offerings and deliver exceptional experiences to clients,” he added.

WNS will be able to accelerate customer response management, automate processes that will optimize efficiencies and reduce costs while enhancing customer experience by utilizing Uniphore’s Real Intent™ solutions.

“In today’s world, customer support needs are constantly evolving and new levels of capability and technology are required for success,” said Jafar Syed, Chief Growth Officer for Uniphore. “This strategic partnership with WNS brings the benefits of their global expertise and our industry-leading technical capabilities that will ultimately help drive business transformation by delivering new customer experiences.”

About Uniphore:

Uniphore is the global leader in Conversational Service Automation (CSA), which combines the power of artificial intelligence, automation technology and machine learning. Uniphore is disrupting an outdated customer service model and bridging the gap between humans and machines by focusing on conversations. We make it possible for every voice, on every call, to be truly heard.

Uniphore delivers innovative solutions across a flexible platform to enable organizations to provide a better customer experience. This includes intelligent conversational self-service, real-time conversational analytics, versatile agent co-piloting, intent detection, agent coaching, quality assurance, regulatory compliance, and automated after call work. With Conversational Service Automation, enterprises can now engage their customers to effectively build loyalty, improve customer experience and realize operational efficiencies.

For more information, please visit www.uniphore.com and connect with us on LinkedIn and Twitter 

View source version on businesswire.com: 
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200812005284/en/

Contact

India / Asia Pacific:
Nawaz Mohammed, Uniphore,
+91 9980251596
nawaz@uniphore.com

US
Rob Barlow, Uniphore
Mobile: 408.221.1561
robert@uniphore.com

Source : Uniphore

Rackspace Technology supports Humber College in digital infrastructure strategic shift

 KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 12 -- Rackspace Technology™, an end-to-end multicloud technology services company, has announced support for Humber College Institute of Technology & Advanced Learning in its strategic shift to digital infrastructure during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The pandemic has had profound impacts on secondary education and stay-at-home orders have forced institutions to reconsider their learning environments both now and in the future.

To support its students and staff in the transition to remote education, Humber enlisted Onica, a Rackspace Technology company, to fast-track simplified deployment of academic applications that allow students to access them anywhere and from any device.

As a result of the partnership, over 30,000 full-time Humber students are able to access coursework, lessons and resources remotely to continue their studies, according to a statement.

The effort has also allowed Humber to enable a secure ‘Bring Your Own Device’ model of accessibility for students.

With this solution, Humber is no longer limited to manually provisioning and maintaining a set number of desktop systems, which may remove the complex and time-intensive requirement to secure desktops, and instead recover campus funds for other purposes in the future.

Onica designed, tested and implemented a production-grade Amazon AppStream 2.0 environment for Humber, integrated with its on-premises data centre to simplify the deployment of academic applications.

Rackspace and Humber minimised downtime during the project by fast-tracking internal processes to eliminate weeks of lag, spinning up the initial environment in just 10 business days.

The project is set to complete in Summer 2020, with at least 80 per cent of Humber’s applications available remotely through Amazon AppStream 2.0.

-- BERNAMA

SYNCHRONOSS ANNOUNCES CONTRACT RENEWAL WITH VERIZON

 The five-year extension gives Synchronoss the ability to continue to provide Verizon with its Personal Cloud Platform


BRIDGEWATER, N.J., Aug 11 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Synchronoss Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: SNCR), a global leader and innovator of cloud, messaging, digital and IoT platforms, today announced it has secured a renewal to its agreement to provide Verizon with its White-Label Personal Cloud Platform. The deal will enable Verizon to provide secure, easy-to-use cloud storage for customers and safely protect their valuable personal digital content, including photos, videos and messages.

“We are thrilled to further extend our long-standing relationship with Verizon to help deliver a successful, much-desired personal cloud service to its customers for many years to come,” said Glenn Lurie, President and CEO at Synchronoss. “Today’s devices are a key repository for much of our digital content, from family photos and videos to contacts, documents, text messages and more.”

Ronan Dunne, Executive Vice President and CEO of Verizon Consumer Group, added, “Our subscribers have a high level of trust and confidence in our ability to protect their privacy, safeguard their information while also providing them access to their personal data whenever and wherever they want it. Our partnership with Synchronoss helps us to continue to meet those needs through the feature-rich Verizon Cloud that backs up and syncs content among multiple devices.”

The White-Label Synchronoss Personal Cloud Platform includes the ability to automatically set content backup based on a subscriber’s personal preferences, as well as tag and search content for quick and easy access, view photos in flashback or story format, and share and print customizable albums to be enjoyed with friends and family. The new agreement also will give Verizon the ability to extend its personal cloud offering into other areas of subscribers’ daily lives, including backup and protection of other types of data and other devices.

About Synchronoss Technologies, Inc.
Synchronoss (NASDAQ: SNCR) transforms the way companies create new revenue, reduce costs and delight their subscribers with cloud, messaging, digital and IoT products and platforms supporting hundreds of millions of subscribers across the globe. Synchronoss’ secure, scalable and groundbreaking new technologies, trusted partnerships and talented people change the way TMT customers grow their businesses. For more information, visit us at www.synchronoss.com.

Media Contacts:
CC Group PR
Synchronoss@CCGroupPR.com

Investors:
Leslie Gahagan
Investor Relations Analyst
1-800-575-7606
investor@synchronoss.com

SOURCE : Synchronoss Technologies, Inc.

CYBERPORT HOUSES OVER 30 INSURTECH START-UPS WITH GREAT POTENTIAL

 

Creating business value through digital transformation


Hong Kong, Aug 11 (Bernama-GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As a key promoter of Hong Kong's digital technology developments, Hong Kong Cyberport spares no efforts in injecting new momentum into the economy. Cyberport has the largest FinTech community in Hong Kong, boosting close to 400 FinTech companies that offer financial software and services, financial data analysis, wealth management technology, payment technology and more. As the region's insurance hub, Hong Kong's insurance technology (InsurTech) has seen rapid developments. Currently, there are more than 30 InsurTech companies in the Cyberport Community. They provide diversified insurance technology solutions that run through the insurance sector's industry chain, propelling the industry's digital transformation.

Eric Chan, Chief Public Mission Officer of Cyberport said, "As an international financial centre, Hong Kong is developing its financial technology industry at full force. With its abundance of finance talents and strong backing from both the government and Cyberport, Hong Kong's FinTech start-ups have sprung up. Their innovative financial technology solutions not only lift the competitiveness of local financial institutions and provide more convenient experiences for users, they have also been adopted by overseas and multinational financial corporations. Multiple solutions of Cyberport’s InsurTech start-ups could be introduced to the Greater Bay Area, ASEAN and international insurance markets."

InsurTech basecamp

Virtual insurance companies that adopt digital distribution channels are able to lower their operating costs by utilizing technologies and reducing insurance intermediaries. This enables them to provide simple and fragmented products with low premiums to promote insurance coverage. From 2018 until now, four companies have been granted virtual insurance licenses in Hong Kong. All of them are members of the Cyberport community, including Bowtie, Avo Insurance, OneDegree and ZA Insure. They bring innovative and affordable insurance products to the market, such as voluntary health insurance policies with competitive prices, eWallet insurance packages for the modern-day consumer, pet insurance policies that have yet to become common in Hong Kong and health insurance plans targeting specific illnesses. All these products breathe life into Hong Kong's insurance market.

Besides newly established virtual insurance companies, there have been collaborations between Cyberport's InsurTech start-ups and conventional insurance companies. They have worked together on different steps along the insurance process from product design, distribution to compensation, facilitating the digital transformation. General banks or insurance companies often take between six and nine months to create a system for new insurance products. For Cyberport community member CoverGo, it makes good use of application programming interfaces (APIs) to drastically cut the time it takes on insurance product design. Insurance firms that choose to use CoverGo's technical platform service can complete a product design in a matter of days whilst balancing risks in claims assessments.

On selling insurance policies, Cyberport incubatee HEYCOINS recently teamed up with Zurich Insurance (Hong Kong) to provide sports protection microinsurances. Through HEYCOINS' mobile application, the policyholder can buy a microsinsurance product that takes effect the same day the purchase is made, to cover medical expenses that may incur from sports injuries.

At the claims and assessment stage, Cyberport incubatee MediConCen uses blockchain technology to support insurance companies in their medical claims process. Blockchain technology does not allow changes to previous records. This vastly increases the confidence level patients, medical groups and insurance firms have on available data. The claims process is made even quicker with the use of a simple interface. This makes assessments more efficient and cost-effective.

Mutual benefits for brokers and consumers

InsurTech is not limited to insurance companies. It is also within reach of insurance brokers and consumers. A professional broker needs to follow up with a client after a policy has been purchased to provide timely assistance and advice. It is not easy for brokers with large numbers of clients to look after each consumer's individual needs. Though brokers can turn to Cyberport incubatee PortfoPlus and use its platform. Once the broker has set up an account for a particular client and uploaded policy information, the system will reference big data to analyse if the policyholder has sufficient coverage. This enables the broker to provide policy suggestions for the client. An average consumer may find it daunting to compare the different insurance policies on the market. Now, policyholders can make use of insurance plan comparison platform 10Life. Its system uses mathematical calculations and compares different components of insurance policies to generate an objective product score and rating. This helps consumers select an insurance product most suited to their needs.

Nurturing insurance and other FinTech start-ups

Cyberport is a key incubator in Hong Kong that is focused on promoting the development and application of FinTech, smart living, digital entertainment & esports. It also provides support for incubatees in the above-mentioned arenas. Cyberport offers one-stop support for start-ups from proof of concept, to setting up business, marketing and expansion in overseas markets. Financial assistance provided could reach a maximum of HK$ 1.1 million. Through the Cyberport Enterprise Network, Cyberport Investors Network and Cyberport Technology Network, Cyberport can facilitate collaborations between start-ups and conventional companies to help increase their orders, seek financing and partnerships with leading technology firms.

In addition, the "Cyberport Macro Fund" founded in 2016, adopts a concept of co-investment funds to encourage private and public investors to invest in start-ups at Cyberport. This then allows them to obtain financing to further grow their business. The portfolio of the Fund includes two InsurTech start-ups - OneDegree and MediConCen.

As Eric Chan noted, "Cyberport's assistance for start-ups is not limited to local entrepreneurs. We encourage driven and creative entrepreneurs from the mainland and overseas, to run their business in Hong Kong and inject new momentum into Hong Kong's digital economy. Some insurance demand could not be satisfied by the market in the past due to cost or operational restrictions. With InsurTech, conventional insurance companies and virtual insurers are able to launch more innovative products easily. Both the industry and consumers will seek to benefit from cheaper premiums and accessible policies."

# # #

Attachment

• Campus photo_photo1

Denny Law
Hong Kong Cyberport
media@cyberport.hk 

SOURCE : Hong Kong Cyberport

Prumo, bp, Siemens partner SPIC on Brazil energy projects

 KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 11 -- Prumo, a private Brazilian company controlled by EIG Global Energy Partners, bp and Siemens have signed a binding agreement with SPIC Brasil whereby, SPIC initially acquires 33 per cent of the GNA I and GNA II LNG-to-power projects, located in Port of Açu, Rio de Janeiro.

SPIC Brasil's contribution to this partnership is centred on its expertise in operation and project management strategy in Brazil.

In addition, bp will contribute its global portfolio of LNG acting as a key integrated and innovative gas supplier while Prumo contributes the entire port infrastructure, operations, project development and integration.   

Meanwhile, Siemens – via its financing arm, Siemens Financial Services, and in close cooperation with Siemens Energy – will contribute capital, innovative technology and expertise managing similar projects.

SPIC has also entered into an agreement to participate in the future expansion projects GNA III and GNA IV, which are expected to be fuelled by a combination of LNG and domestic gas from Brazil’s vast pre-salt reserves.

The closing of the agreement, scheduled for 2020 fourth quarter, is subject to fulfillment of certain conditions precedent usual to this type of transaction, among others, according to a statement.

GNA I and GNA II are the largest gas-to-power projects in Latin America, with 3 GW of installed capacity — enough to supply energy for up to 14 million households. The complex also includes an LNG terminal with total capacity of 21 million m3/ day.

The estimated total planned investment in the GNA gas and power complex is approximately US$5 billion. (US$1 = RM4.20)

-- BERNAMA

Johnson Matthey technology selected for world's largest single train methanol plant

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 5 -- Johnson Matthey (JM) has been selected by China’s Ningxia Baofeng Energy Group as licensor for the third methanol synthesis plant at its coal to olefins complex near Yinchuan in Ningxia Province PRC.

With a planned capacity of 7,200 mtpd, the methanol plant will be the world’s largest single train methanol plant upon completion, according to a statement.

Under the agreement, JM will be the licensor and supplier of associated engineering, technical review, commissioning assistance, catalyst and equipment supply. The JM methanol plant will take synthesis gas as a feed and utilise JM radial steam raising converters in a patented Series Loop.

Together with JM catalysts, to produce stabilised methanol as a product that is used to produce olefins downstream, the plant will provide enhanced energy efficiency along with low OPEX, CAPEX and emissions.

Upon startup, this will represent JM’s eighth operating licence in China with a plant capacity greater than 5,500 mtpd.

The licence award demonstrates Baofeng’s recognition of JM’s technical leadership and is testament to the latter’s commitment and dedication to large-scale methanol production delivery.

“We are very proud of our ongoing collaboration with Ningxia Baofeng Energy. It is testament to their confidence in JM’s engineering expertise and ability to successfully design and help deliver their large-scale methanol plants”, said JM Managing Director, John Gordon.

“In just over six years, it has been exciting to see our strong partnership result in the commissioning of two large scale plants with increasing volumes and a third world-scale plant on the way.”

JM is a global leader in science that enables a cleaner and healthier world. For more information, visit www.matthey.com

-- BERNAMA