Fintech PR
Banco Safra Files Lawsuit to Prevent Americanas and Its Controlling Shareholders from Moving Forward with Deficient Restructuring Plan
SAO PAULO, Dec. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Banco Safra today filed suit to prevent Americanas (the “Company”) and its controlling shareholders from moving forward with a deficient recovery plan that it believes would be nullified by the Judiciary.
Americanas and its controlling shareholders, Lemann, Telles and Sicupira, have proposed a recovery plan that seeks to prevent creditors from continuing to investigate the true causes of the fraud perpetrated at the Company. Banco Safra believes this clause is an illegal effort by the Company and its controlling shareholders to avoid accountability for the fraud and are challenging the legality of the recovery plan.
In January 2023, Americanas named Sérgio Rial as Chief Executive Officer. Rial was new to Americanas. Less than 10 days into his new role, he uncovered what he and others believed to be a massive fraud multiple times larger than the company’s net equity, resulting in the company filing for insolvency protection. Lemann, Telles and Sicupira claim that they, like the Company’s creditors, are victims of the fraud and have asserted that they were not aware of any wrongdoing at the company. They have made this claim even though they and their children sat on the Board of Directors of Americanas and have been overseeing the company and working with the executives who allegedly perpetrated the fraud for over 20 years.
To substantiate this assertion, the Board of Directors of Americanas handpicked an “Independent Committee” to investigate the alleged fraud. This Committee reports to the very same Board that oversaw the Company when the fraud was committed and has the contradictory mandate of investigating the same individuals who appointed it. This is a blatant conflict of interest and incongruent with basic corporate governance standards.
The Company and the controlling shareholders have now presented a new recovery plan that would result in creditors being repaid a fraction of what they are contractually owed on a commitment not to litigate or investigate against the controlling shareholders and their families and other directors of Americanas.
The controlling shareholders have the financial resources to fully repay creditors for all funds lost. Instead, as part of the recovery plan, they have proposed a capital injection that amounts to less than one third of the total value of the fraud and an insignificant amount in relation to their assets. In a coercive attempt to avoid fulfilling their obligations, creditors must agree to end the investigations into the fraud to benefit from this capital injection.
This illegal clause is just one of multiple deficiencies Banco Safra believes should nullify the entire Americanas recovery plan as set forth in the suit we filed today.
Media Contact
Robert Siegfried / Ross Lovern
Kekst CNC
212-521-4800
View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/banco-safra-files-lawsuit-to-prevent-americanas-and-its-controlling-shareholders-from-moving-forward-with-deficient-restructuring-plan-302005020.html
Fintech PR
Get a firsthand experience of the charisma of Xi
BEIJING, Dec. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — A report from Poeple’s Daily:
In May 2024, Chinese President Xi Jinping paid a state visit to Hungary. During this historic visit, leaders of the two countries announced the elevation of bilateral relations to an all-weather comprehensive strategic partnership for the new era, injecting renewed powerful impetus into cooperation between the two countries.
As the interpreter for Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban during his meeting with President Xi, Simon Adrienn had the opportunity to again gain a firsthand glimpse into the charisma of President Xi as the leader of a major country.
In 2009, Xi, the then vice president of China, visited Hungary. Simon accompanied him as an interpreter for the first time to explore a memorial hall with rich Hungarian ethnic characteristics. “As I provided explanations, Xi listened attentively, showing a genuine interest in Hungarian history and culture. I could sense that he was a leader of great knowledge and insight”.
Since then, she has worked as an interpreter during meetings between the leaders of Hungary and China on numerous occasions. In her memories, Prime Minister Orban and President Xi are both candid and wise leaders who know about each other and trust each other. “President Xi’s clear articulation makes my job relatively easy. He is approachable, and respects and treats every staff member equally. In my view, this exemplifies the true essence of a great leader of a major country.”
Before kicking off this state visit to Hungary, President Xi published a signed article titled “Embarking on a Golden Voyage in China–Hungary Relations” in the Hungarian newspaper Magyar Nemzet. The article provided a comprehensive overview of the successful practices and positive outcomes in the development of bilateral relations over the past 75 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries. Simon translated the article into Hungarian. She said this experience was a valuable learning process, allowing her to gain a deeper understanding of President Xi’s views and thoughts.
In fact, this was not the first time that she translated President Xi’s books and articles. She once participated in the translation of President Xi’s book “Xi Jinping: The Governance of China“. In her eyes, President Xi drew upon numerous Chinese historical and cultural references in the book, prompting her to delve into the materials to identify the most suitable expressions. The process of translation provided her with profound intellectual enlightenment.
She deeply admires President Xi’s statement “Friendship, which derives from close contact between the people, holds the key to sound state-to-state relations.” As Hungary-China relations navigate a “golden channel,” closer people-to-people ties stand as a vital cornerstone. The Hungarian and Chinese people share many similarities, both valuing family harmony. The Hungarian people hold a profound appreciation for Chinese culture, evident through the presence of multiple Confucius Institutes, numerous traditional Chinese medicine clinics, and bilingual schools in Hungary that nurture a plethora of young talents for cultural exchanges between the two nations. Hungarian Chinese communities have also made substantial contributions to fostering deeper friendship between the two countries. People-to-people and cultural exchanges continue to strengthen, laying a solid foundation for cooperation between the two nations.
In the 1980s, student exchanges between Hungary and China began, and Simon was one of the beneficiaries. Her connection with China dated back to the third grade of primary school. At that time, she read many Chinese folk stories in the library. Upon graduating from high school, she seized the opportunity to study in China and spent six wonderful years there which had a significant impact on her life. Even today, she still enjoys reading Chinese folk stories and children’s literature. She has translated them into Hungarian, and organized Hungarian children to read them. she is always learning and improving, hoping to enhance mutual understanding between the two peoples through her work and continue to write new stories of friendly exchanges with her Chinese friends.
View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/get-a-firsthand-experience-of-the-charisma-of-xi-302339216.html
Fintech PR
WSPN Appoints Former EY Global Chief Innovation Officer Jeff Wong as Independent Director
SINGAPORE, Dec. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Worldwide Stablecoin Payment Network (WSPN), a leading stablecoin infrastructure company, announces the appointment of Jeff Wong as Independent Director. Mr. Wong brings over 25 years of experience in technology innovation and enterprise transformation to WSPN. He most recently served as EY’s Global Chief Innovation Officer from 2015 to 2024, where he spearheaded the firm’s global innovation initiatives and established EY’s advanced technology labs focusing on Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain, Quantum Computing, and Web3.
Prior to EY, Mr. Wong held leadership roles at eBay and JPMorgan Partners. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, the Forbes Technology Council, and the founding Chair of Asia Society’s Technology and Innovation Council, helping drive the innovation and transformation agenda. He was also a member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Innovation Ecosystems. He has previously served on the Oxford Foundry Board at Oxford University and the Advisory Board for AI4All. Mr. Wong is a recipient of the Outstanding 50 Asian Americans in Business award and an honoree of the A100 List by Gold House, recognizing individuals with Asian Pacific heritage who have made a significant impact on American culture and society.
“Joining WSPN at this pivotal moment in the stablecoin industry is incredibly exciting,” said Mr. Wong. “I look forward to contributing my experience in emerging technologies and enterprise transformation to help WSPN build the next generation of digital payment infrastructure.”
“Jeff’s appointment represents a significant strategic addition to WSPN,” said Raymond Yuan, Founder and CEO of WSPN. “His deep expertise in innovation management, enterprise transformation, and emerging technologies, combined with his leadership experience at global institutions, will be invaluable as we accelerate our market expansion and global development.”
About WSPN
WSPN is a leading provider of next-generation stablecoin infrastructure, committed to building a more secure, efficient, and transparent payment solution for the global economy. Their flagship product, WUSD stablecoin, is pegged 1:1 to the U.S. Dollar and aims to optimize secure digital payments for Web3 users. WSPN’s Stablecoin 2.0 approach prioritizes user-centricity, community governance, and accessibility, paving the way for widespread stablecoin adoption.
Learn more: www.wspn.io | X | LinkedIn
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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/wspn-appoints-former-ey-global-chief-innovation-officer-jeff-wong-as-independent-director-302338852.html
Fintech PR
Sinopec Completes Construction of China’s Largest Petrochemical Industrial Base
Refining Capacity of the Base Surpasses 50 Million Tons per Year
NINGBO, China, Dec. 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation‘s (HKG: 0386, “Sinopec”) recently announced the mechanical completion of the second-phase expansion and advanced materials project at its Zhenhai Refinery. This milestone sets new benchmarks for innovation, smart manufacturing, and energy efficiency in large-scale projects. The refinery’s capacity has now been upgraded to 40 million tons per year, contributing to the Zhejiang Ningbo Petrochemical Industrial Base surpassing a total refining capacity of 50 million tons annually. The achievement solidifies its position as China’s largest, most advanced, and globally competitive petrochemical industrial base.
Located in the Yangtze River Delta, a key downstream product consumption hub, the Zhejiang Ningbo Petrochemical Industrial Base plays a vital role in Sinopec’s value chain. The second-phase expansion and advanced materials project, with a total investment of CNY 41.6 billion, incorporates 18 production units, including atmospheric distillation, catalytic cracking, polypropylene, and propane dehydrogenation units. By emphasizing chemical-focused processes, the project creates multiple high-value-added supply chains.
The facility’s expanded production capacity supports the development of high-end polyolefins, advanced materials, and specialty chemicals. It is expected to provide approximately 8 million tons of petrochemical products annually, significantly boosting the overall capacity of supply chains for industries such as automotive, home appliances, and textiles in the region. This expansion is forecast to generate trillions of yuan in upstream and downstream industrial value.
The project achieved remarkable progress in technological innovation and sustainability. Highlights include:
- Localization of 10 core technologies, including the world’s highest-load vertical labyrinth compressor.
- Extensive deployment of smart technologies, enabling simultaneous delivery of digital and physical factories.
- Integration of a fully localized industrial operating system and a self-developed industrial internet platform to enhance decision-making and management.
- Implementation of comprehensive energy-saving measures, achieving an overall reduction in energy consumption of 11.7%.
- Safety and quality were paramount during construction, with over 90 million consecutive safe man-hours recorded and a 100% quality pass rate for all units, setting a new industry benchmark.
Zhenhai Refinery, Sinopec’s largest integrated refining and chemical enterprise, boasts an ethylene production capacity of 2.2 million tons per year. It is also the only enterprise in China consistently ranked in the top performance group of the Solomon Global Ethylene Performance Evaluation.
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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/sinopec-completes-construction-of-chinas-largest-petrochemical-industrial-base-302339157.html
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