Archive: November 11, 2021

ADDX Expects Significant Upside in Japan, As Partner Tokai Tokyo Receives Security Tokens License

The two companies will collaborate on issuances by Japanese real estate companies and banks, that will be offered to investors in Japan

SINGAPORE, 11 NOVEMBER 2021 – Financial services company Tokai Tokyo Financial Holdings and private market exchange ADDX have announced a new partnership to offer fractional private market investment products to investors in Japan, after Tokai Tokyo secured a security tokens license from the Japanese regulator.

The Tokyo Stock Exchange-listed Tokai Tokyo is the holding company for a leading securities brokerage in Japan. The company offers investment and trading services to investors via its network of 144 offices in Japan. It holds consolidated net assets worth US$1.4 billion and has US$38 billion of client assets under management.

Last month, Tokai Tokyo received a license from the Japanese regulator – the Financial Services Agency (FSA) – that allows the company to deal in security tokens, also known as digital securities. With the new license, Tokai Tokyo and ADDX plan to collaborate on security token issuances by Japanese real estate companies and banks. These future deals will be tokenised on the ADDX platform before being distributed by Tokai Tokyo to sophisticated investors in Japan. In addition, Japanese investors will be able to trade the digital securities on the ADDX secondary exchange through Tokai Tokyo.

With this new business partnership, ADDX expects a significant increase to its revenue from the Japanese market. Under the tie-up, Tokai Tokyo will be the first company in Japan to distribute security tokens that are tradeable on a secondary exchange. It will also be the first in Japan to deal in security tokens for non-liquid assets, as previous security token licensees received regulatory approvals for liquid assets .

For Tokai Tokyo and ADDX, this is a partnership that began in 2019 when Tokai Tokyo made its first investment in ADDX, previously known as iSTOX. Tokai Tokyo was also a lead investor in the US$50 million Series A fundraising round by ADDX in January 2021. Other ADDX shareholders include Japanese investors JIC Venture Growth Investments (JIC-VGI) and the Development Bank of Japan (DBJ), Singapore Exchange (SGX) as well as Temasek subsidiary Heliconia Capital .

Yuji Ban, Senior Managing Executive Officer, Tokai Tokyo Financial Holdings, said: “It took a long time to get to this point, but we now have a license for security tokens. Our future collaboration with ADDX will be key to establishing an innovative business model in Japan, where a digital security exchange like ADDX does not exist yet. We and many others in Japan eagerly anticipate working with ADDX to create investment opportunities for Japanese investors and new financing options for issuers. We look forward to working with ADDX on a variety of security token projects in the near future.”

Oi Yee Choo, Chief Commercial Officer of ADDX, said: “Japan has one of the most forward-thinking regulators on the issue of digital securities – alongside those in a handful of other jurisdictions, including Singapore. This prevailing view has once again been validated by the Japanese regulator’s latest move to grant a new security tokens license. As Japan embraces innovation in the capital markets, individuals will, no doubt, be the chief beneficiaries. The community of individual sophisticated investors in Japan is deep and sophisticated. Historically, they have shown a strong interest in real estate investments. But the opportunities open to them – whether in real estate or other asset types – are curtailed because of the high minimum investment sizes in the private markets. Digital securities can fractionalise investments, helping individuals to diversify their portfolios and to invest with a strategy and asset-mix closer to that of family offices or institutions. This promises several positive knock-on effects – from better retirement adequacy to a fairer distribution of wealth.”

She added: “Tokai Tokyo is one of the oldest and most trusted financial companies in Japan, with roots dating back to 1908. We expect this partnership to yield multiple deals over the next few quarters. The possibilities are exciting and limitless, given how the two companies share the same vision on innovation in the financial services and bring complementary strengths to the table.”

Digital securities are securities issued using blockchain and smart contract technology. They are more efficient to administer, because the technology reduces the need for intermediaries and automates manual processes. Digital securities are also regulated and backed by real-world assets. The efficiency of blockchain allows minimum ticket sizes for private market products to be reduced from US$1 million to US$10,000, expanding access for accredited investors to previously out-of-reach assets, including funds, bonds and pre-IPO equity. Issuers benefit from lower fees, the ability to reach a larger investor base, a lower fundraising threshold, as well as a faster speed-to-issuance.

ADDX is a full-service capital markets platform with Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) licenses for the issuance, custody, and secondary trading of digital securities. Individual accredited investors using the ADDX platform today come from Asia Pacific, Europe, and the Americas (excluding the US).

3D Development and Midas Open Element Hotel in Texas

Newest Richardson, Texas hotel is part of a mixed-use real estate project

(St. Louis, Mo., Nov. 10, 2021) Midas, a leading hotel management and investment firm, recently announced the opening of its new Element by Westin hotel. The $22 million hotel is located at 2205 North Glenville Dr. in Richardson, Texas. The Element is part of a 5.2-acre mixed-use development and joint venture with 3D Development, a real estate development company with offices in Georgia, Tennessee, and Texas.

Midas Hospitality will manage the four-story hotel, which has 123 spacious suites that include fully equipped kitchens and spa-inspired bathrooms. MW Builders, which has offices in Kansas and Texas, was the general contractor for the hotel. Gray Design Group was the architect, and Commerce Bank is providing the financing.

The Element concept encourages renewal through a nature-influenced environment and is constructed with efficient use of space and sustainability in mind. Highlights include a Motion Fitness Center, an all-natural saline pool, and a Bikes to Borrow program for its guests.

This is the second Element hotel brand that Midas Hospitality will manage. Janina Partney, who has more than nine years of hotel operations background and over 15 years of accounting experience, will serve as the General Manager. Prior to this position, Partney served as General Manager of the Element hotel in Irving, Texas.

Richardson is a thriving corporate community that includes Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas, Raytheon, State Farm, and Texas Instruments. The city is home to the University of Texas at Dallas.

“This development not only represents our second investment made in Texas, but it is also our second alliance with Marriott’s exciting Element concept,” said Midas Capital’s President Eric Goettelmann. “We’re extremely proud of our Midas team members and partners who helped us complete this development through these trying times.”

3D Development was founded in 2008 and has offices in Georgia, Tennessee, and Texas. The full-service real estate development company focuses on building solutions for national retail and hospitality brands. For more information, call (423) 290-2412 or visit 3D Development.

Founded in 2006, Midas is a fully integrated real estate enterprise with business units specializing in capital generation, construction, and management services for hospitality properties and adjacent investments. With partners including Hilton, Marriott, and IHG, Midas brings institutional-quality real estate to both growth- and income-focused investors. Midas’ headquarters are located at 1804 Borman Circle Dr. in Maryland Heights, Mo. For more information, call (314) 692-0100 or visit Midas Hospitality.

SuperBottoms launches India’s 1st Sheet Detergent

SuperBottoms launches eco-friendly detergent that aspires to fight against environmental issues with its unique Super Laundry Sheets

Bengaluru, 10 November 2021: Every year, marine and water bodies pollution kills a million ecosystems, and conventional laundry detergents are a major contributor. Traditional detergents contain harsh chemicals and toxins that are damaging to both users and the environment. In that light, India’s no. 1 sustainable baby care brand, SuperBottoms, is looking forward to redefining the detergent industry with eco-friendly and highly efficient Super Laundry Sheets.

According to a recent study conducted by CSIR – NEERI, 10% of the city’s 210 lakes are in excellent condition, while the remainder have poor water quality. The use of regular laundry detergents that include up to 75% phosphates, bleach, SLS/SLES, and optical brighteners, among other wastes dumped into these bodies of water, is one of the main reasons for water pollution. The high concentration of these salts promotes the growth of algae and other weeds, depriving the water of oxygen and resulting in the death of marine life such as fish, plants, and other aquatic animals. Marine life loses their external mucus layers, which protect them from bacteria and parasites, as a result of the chemicals in detergents.

“Pollution of water bodies are a serious issue today, and it is one of the primary causes of global climate change. Our regular laundry routine, as well as our reliance on standard laundry detergent, exacerbates the situation. Both the flora and fauna will be severely harmed if the threat is not addressed quickly. A sustainable cleaning product is urgently needed to help stop our planet’s constant attacks. Super Laundry Sheets was created with this idea in mind, not only are our detergent sheets eco-friendly, but they also assure a superior cleaning experience. We promise you deep and spotless clean whether you opt for a machine wash or a hand wash. They’re simple to use, making the transition to sustainable washing easier than ever,” stated Pallavi Utagi, Founder, SuperBottoms.

Super Laundry Sheets are dissolvable paper-thin sheets that are made of safe cleaning agents including super concentrated detergent formula with more cleaning actives, less fillers and no toxic chemicals, to reduce water pollution. They don’t contain lathering ingredients, which means they use less water to rinse off and have a lower carbon footprint during transport. The sheets are packaged in eco-friendly cardboard boxes that are biodegradable.

SuperBottoms Super Laundry Sheets are available in packs of 10, 45, 90 sheets, at a price of INR 99/-, INR 420/-, INR 790/-, respectively and are also available with a subscription offer on www.superbottoms.com.

The Victorian Cherry Season Is Nearly Here!

Eat the cherry goodness and visit the Cherry Trail this summer

There’s not long to go until Victorian Cherries will be perfectly ripe for the picking and everyone can enjoy the adored red fruit. The season kicks off in November and the Cherry Trail will be open in time for restrictions easing.

The Victorian Cherry season runs from early-November until mid-January, with the peak season being in December. Across these months there are a variety of different Victorian Cherries to enjoy, so the cherry eaten at the start of the season will be different to the one eaten at the end – all the more reason to eat them all season long!

Some of the country’s most popular cherry varieties – Merchant, Bing, Regina, Lapin, Sweet Georgia, Sweetheart and Van – are grown in Victoria. The season begins in the Sunraysia/NW Victoria and northern regions and follows through to central Victoria and well-known areas in Melbourne surrounds.

This year, it is hoped that restrictions will ease in time for Victorians to visit the Cherry Trail. An opportunity to see eight orchards, buy farm-fresh Cherries from the on-site shop and even pick-your-own at some of the farms. It’s a great day out for families, couples or friends and a fantastic way to support Victorian farms from Sunraysia to Mornington Peninsula.

Cherries make the perfect snack, eaten on their own while out and about, at home or at school. They are also a great cooking ingredient in both sweet and savoury dishes, adding flavour and richness to salads, salsas, sauces, dressings and desserts.

Of course, Cherries are an ideal gift too, especially around the festive season when they are mid-season and available in abundance. And is it really Christmas without a box of cherries at home?

Given that Cherries are fairly low calorie, contain 40% of recommended daily vitamin C and are packed full of antioxidants, they are a healthy choice. Cherries have even been linked to lowering inflammation in the body and reducing the risk of gout and gout attacks.

Cherries do not continue to ripen once picked, so snacking can begin immediately! They can be stored in the fridge in a bag or container for up to ten days, or frozen for up to six months when de-stoned.

Alison Jones, President of The Victorian Cherry Association said “Cherry farmers are looking forward to Victorians enjoying the incredible Cherries we are expecting this season.

“The last couple of years have been challenging but we hope by this summer we can enjoy some quality time with friends and family and we encourage people to visit the Cherry Trail and visit some of our beautiful orchards.

“I think the challenges we have faced have made us appreciate the smaller things in life and sharing great produce with loved ones is one of those things. Cherries remind us it is summer and that the festive season is near.”

Delicious Victorian Cherries are a summer staple, so everyone should ensure they are at the top of their grocery lists this season.

YPay aims at multiplying its manpower by 3x

New Delhi, 10 November 2021:  YPay- the best and newest way to manage your child’s expenses under full parental control and supervision,  plans to increase its workforce by 300 percent in the next two quarters. It currently employs 50 employees and aims to increase its total strength to over 200 employees by the end of the fiscal year. Hiring would be done across various departments- technology, sales, and marketing, the company has announced.

YPay intends to expand the horizons of its services and reach. The new hiring plans will be a step in this direction.

“We are driven by the idea of offering innovations in the field of payments. Understanding that this might be a good time to onboard skilled professionals, we have announced the hiring drive. A lot of sectors had gone on layoffs during the lockdown, and currently opening the doors to talent would make it a win-win for both sides- the brand and the employees,” said Dr. Navneet Gupta, Founder & CEO, YPay.

The Company is looking to instill fresh talent and new blood to further fuel the spirit of the company. Hiring will mainly be done across junior and mid-level management and the recruits would chiefly be based out of Noida.

Ypay has been working relentlessly to usher in an era of new and innovative payment solutions and capabilities, aimed at consumers of all ages and demographics. Ypay runs on cutting-edge, state of the art digital and technological infrastructure, which makes any and all activities on its platform absolutely safe, secure, and reliable.

Products like the YPay card, which is embedded with a variety of AI-powered tools, is just one illustration of the company’s commitment to continued innovation in the field of payments.

About YPay

Ypay, a young and innovative fintech startup is a digital payments platform ideal for children and teens to manage their spending under full parental management and supervision. It allows parents to inculcate the values of money management and financial prudence in their children in a safe and controlled environment. These tools, given to them at a formative age, serve as the foundation for a child’s prosperous future.

Further, YPay Smartcards are an essential step in modifying the behavioural tendencies of students towards digital payments. It allows students to adopt and manage digital payments for all their expenses ranging anywhere from school supplies and canteen payments, to school fees.

Ypay Smart Cards are a solution for all such problems, ensuring safety and security while providing financial freedom autonomy to kids in a controlled and supervised manner.

South Goa Gets A Ballroom So Grand, It Can Accommodate Your Most Exquisite Dreams

Whether it’s lavish weddings, glitzy galas, or even team-building conferences, ballrooms provide the perfect setting to host the most glamorous and talked-about occasions of our lifetimes. And now, those looking to make the Sunshine State, Goa, their destination of choice for a social or professional can opt for the Novotel Goa Dona Sylvia Resort, one of Goa’s finest hotels, which is all set to launch South Goa’s largest ballroom – The Grand Ballroom. Spread across 7,000 sq ft., the ballroom is Goa’s grandest, which has the capacity to accommodate in excess of 1000 guests.

The capacious hotel is home to a ballroom with sparkling crystal chandeliers, priceless fresco paintings, and gilded ceilings – creating a statement of grandeur and luxury. Being the largest convention space in South Goa, this palatial venue is a perfect blend of modern and contemporary sensibilities making it the preferred address for destination weddings.

The Grand Ballroom offers an unmatched experience, in sync with the luxury style statement made by the Novotel Goa Dona Sylvia. Featuring 181 rooms spread over 20 acres of lush gardens and swaying palm trees, the hotel is decked out with Mediterranean-theme-styled villas that reflect Goan Portuguese architecture.

Dennis D’Costa, General Manager of Novotel Goa Dona Sylvia, is both excited and proud of the new expansive inclusion to the hotel. “It’s with great pride that Novotel Goa Dona Sylvia announces the biggest, most luxurious ballroom in all of South Goa. Every feature has been mindfully planned, so as to create memorable experiences for our guests.”

For those looking to tie the knot in the midst of a calming oasis, there are a handful of things as magical as saying “I Do” with a picturesque coastline as the backdrop, the waves crashing and swelling in the distance and a slight breeze in your hair. With Novotel Goa Dona Sylvia, your idea of a wedding in the great outdoors is bolstered by the combination of casual and intimate, which can be an appealing draw for your guests.

The venue’s private beach, and numerous event venues of all sizes will meet your needs, whether you’re hosting a wedding of 25 guests or 500. The exquisite resort is guaranteed to give you memories that will last for a lifetime to come.