Fintech PR
FDIC Approval Moves Varo to Final Stage of Bank Charter Journey

Mobile banking company Varo Money, Inc. today announced a significant step in its application process for a national bank charter, with approval from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) for deposit insurance. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency first awarded Varo preliminary approval in September 2018. Now with FDIC insurance, Varo moves the charter process to the next and final step of the approval process. Varo’s progress with its charter application underscores a bigger shift in the banking industry toward technology-driven experiences as well as a renewed regulatory commitment toward financial inclusion.
“Receiving an official bank charter has been part of Varo’s vision from the very beginning, and we are excited to progress through the necessary steps to accomplishing that goal,” said Colin Walsh, CEO of Varo Money. “Despite historic economic growth, only 29% of Americans are considered financially healthy. Varo is committed to creating inclusive financial opportunities that deliver measurable benefits to all consumers. Becoming a fully chartered bank will give us greater opportunity to deliver products and services that positively impact the lives of everyday people around the country.”
Since launching in July 2017, Varo has become a highly rated mobile banking brand with a mission to expand financial inclusion and help people stretch their money with bank accounts that have no minimum balance requirement or monthly account fees. Varo customers can get paid up to two days early with direct deposit*, and the company’s No Fee Overdraft feature allows qualified customers to overdraw their bank account up to $50** with no fees if they are running short before the next payday. Additionally, Varo offers fee-free ATM withdrawals with its network of more than 55,000 Allpoint® ATMs worldwide.
Varo also delivers easier ways to save, with one of the highest Annual Percentage Yields (APYs) on the market and its Save Your Change program, which automatically rounds up purchases to the nearest dollar and deposits that money directly into a personal savings account.
“We should not underestimate how significant this is for the banking industry as it’s the first time a mobile-centric company is poised to be a chartered bank in the United States. Getting through this very high regulatory hurdle now opens the door for Varo to become the biggest mobile-centric national bank,” said Jo Ann Barefoot, CEO of Barefoot Innovation Group and formerly deputy comptroller of the OCC. “It also opens the door to enabling tens of millions of Americans who have been underserved to gain access to affordable FDIC-insured banking, which will build financial health and security for individuals and communities.”
Varo Bank is on track to obtain its final national bank charter pending completion of organizational requirements and meeting the conditions of both the OCC’s and FDIC’s Federal Reserve membership. Upon full charter approval, Varo plans to expand to additional types of services including credit cards, loans, and additional savings products.
SOURCE Varo Money, Inc.
Fintech PR
Zydus Lifesciences Limited announces the execution of undertakings to tender as part of its envisaged tender offer for Amplitude Surgical SA shares

AHMEDABAD, India and PARIS, April 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Following the announcement of its envisaged tender offer on March 11, 2025, Zydus Lifesciences Limited announces the execution of undertakings from 7 shareholders to tender 2,236,911 Amplitude Surgical shares, representing 4.7% of the company’s capital and voting rights by them.
Considering the 85.6% of the capital that will be acquired by Zydus Lifesciences Limited from PAI Partners, the management of Amplitude Surgical and two minority shareholders, Zydus Lifesciences Limited will be in a position with these undertakings to acquire more than 90% of the capital and voting rights of Amplitude Surgical at the end of the tender offer.
These undertakings to tender 2,236,911 Amplitude Surgical shares, representing 4.7% of the company’s capital and voting rights, may be revoked in the event of a competing tender offer being filed by a third party, declared compliant and opened by the Autorité des marchés financiers.
The acquisition of the 85.6% block is expected to be completed by June 2025 and the draft tender offer will be filed with the Autorité des marchés financiers upon receipt of regulatory approvals. The opening of the tender offer will then be subject to the clearance decision of the Autorité des marchés financiers.
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Fintech PR
Rönesans Holding to Fuel Economic Growth with New $2 Billion Polypropylene (PP) Production Plant and Terminal Investments in Türkiye

- Will be one of the largest industrial investments ever undertaken by the private sector in Türkiye and the largest investment in Rönesans’ history, expected to directly contribute $300 million annually to Türkiye’s balance of payments.
- A total of $1.3 billion in financing, led by the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) for the PP production plant and Spain’s Export Credit Agency (Cesce) for the PP production plant and terminal, underscoring the project’s global importance.
- The investments secure landmark partnership with Africa’s largest company, SONATRACH and one of the world’s leading integrated supply chain solution providers for specialty liquid bulk chemicals, Stolt-Nielsen.
ISTANBUL, April 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Rönesans Holding, one of Türkiye’s largest contracting and investment conglomerates, has closed the financing to progress the development of a major new PP production plant and terminal facility, which will be one of the largest private sector investments in Türkiye.


This landmark undertaking, valued at $2 billion, is expected to boost Türkiye’s industrial self-sufficiency and strengthen its global trade position – reducing the country’s import dependence.
The development is comprised of two distinct components financed separately by international financiers. The first is the PP production plant, being developed by Rönesans and SONATRACH (as a shareholder and feedstock supplier), with an annual production capacity of 472,500 metric tons, meeting roughly 17% of Türkiye’s PP demand.
“This development exemplifies our commitment to sustainable, high-impact investments that support Türkiye’s economic and industrial ambitions,” said Erman Ilıcak, Honorary President of Rönesans Holding. “The Ceyhan PP Plant will not only bring hundreds of new jobs to the region but also secure a more resilient and competitive supply chain for PP, a vital raw material for industries across Türkiye and Europe. Furthermore, the fact that the project is fully financed by foreign resources highlights our ability to attract international investment, strengthening both foreign financing and FDI inflows into Türkiye.”
In this regard, Rachid Hachichi, CEO of SONATRACH also stated as follows: “The decision to invest in Türkiye is mainly driven by the dynamic and expanding market demand for PP. This location proves to be ideal considering its well-established and constantly evolving industry. In-depth studies reveal favourable economic prospects and promising profitability indicators.”
The second component is the terminal facility, which will be developed in partnership with Stolt-Nielsen’s global bulk liquid storage business, Stolthaven Terminals, and provide jetty and feedstock storage services for the new plant and other possible future customers.
Guy Bessant, President of Stolthaven Terminals, added: “We are pleased to partner with Rönesans Holding on this landmark project. Stolthaven Terminals has more than 50 years’ experience in the safe and efficient handling and storage of bulk liquids and gases, and proven expertise in developing complex and large-scale storage projects. This terminal will not only provide storage for the Ceyhan PP Plant but is also part of the DAPEK Industrial Zone which, in future, could provide storage and logistics solutions for local and international companies looking for distribution services in the region.”
Strong Partnerships and Sustainable Practices
The two projects will use environmentally advanced technology to ensure production efficiency and sustainability. The PP production plant aims to achieve the world’s lowest GHG emissions per tonne of PP produced globally, benefiting from 100% renewable electricity and high-efficiency production methods.
The projects have collectively attracted strong international financial backing with a loan package totalling $1.3 billion from international financiers, including, for the production plant, the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) together with a consortium of international commercial lenders under Cesce coverage, including ING (also acting as Global Coordinator and Documentation Bank), BBVA, Denizbank AG – Austria, DZ BANK and TAEF (formerly Apicorp), with Deutsche Bank as Cesce Facility Agent and, for the Terminal, ING and BBVA under Cesce coverage along with Vakıfbank as commercial lender.
Economic Impact and Commitment to Regional Development
Türkiye is one of the world’s largest PP importers, with demand led by key sectors including automotive, textiles and packaging. Currently, the total annual PP consumption in Türkiye is approximately 2.7 million metric tons, with domestic production able to supply only around 100,000 metric tons of material to the market.
The Ceyhan PP production plant will be strategically located within Türkiye’s DAPEK Industrial Zone, providing logistical and financial advantages that are set to support the local economy and reduce Türkiye’s trade deficit by approximately $300 million annually. The project is expected to create 4,500 construction jobs at its peak and provide 300 permanent jobs once operational.
Aligned with Rönesans Holding’s core values, the project includes initiatives to enhance local skills and employment opportunities. Programmes, including a welding school established for the plant, will support education and skill-building within the region, bringing long-term benefits to the Ceyhan community and contributing to Türkiye’s socio-economic development.
About Rönesans Holding
Rönesans Holding, the conglomerate’s leading investment entity headquartered in Ankara, is the 53rd largest international contracting company globally and one of the largest in Europe. With operations spanning 30 countries across Europe, Central Asia, and Africa, including subsidiaries such as Ballast Nedam in the Netherlands and Heitkamp Industrial Solutions GmbH in Germany, Rönesans has been operating as the main contractor and investor successfully for more than 30 years in construction, real estate, concession, renewable energy and industrials. Putting resilience and growth through innovation at the core of the company, with a priority on sustainability and social development, Rönesans has developed projects supporting students with scholarships, academic platforms and initiatives; been a signatory of the UN Global Compact since 2015; and a signatory of the UN Women’s Empowerment Principles since 2016.
Under the leadership of its Honorary President, Erman Ilıcak, Rönesans, along with its partners GIC, Meridiam Infrastructure, Sojitz, Samsung C&T, TotalEnergies, and IFC of the World Bank Group (minority shareholder in the group), has invested more than EUR 8 billion into pioneering projects globally.
About SONATRACH
Since 1963, SONATRACH has been the unwavering driving force behind the national economy, masterfully developing Algeria’s hydrocarbon reserves, known as the African major, this player in the oil and gas industry derives its strength from its ability to be fully integrated group across the entire hydrocarbon value chain.
SONATRACH operates either independently or in partnership with foreign oil firms some of world’s largest oil & gas fields in different regions of Algerian Sahara, Downstream activities include six active refineries, two petrochemical complexes, four LNG plants, and two LPG separation units. These production activities are fully supported and ensured by a 22,000-kilometre length network and four oil ports developed for loading and unloading large tankers with a capacity of 80,000 up to 320,000 MT.
SONATRACH aims to position itself among the top five national oil firms in the global energy industry, focusing on efficiency and profitability whilst maintaining its role as a cornerstone of the Algerian economy.
The group plan to invest over $59 billion as part of its strategy to develop its operation. This investment is expected to generate more than $68 billion in additional revenue, with 50% of with to be reinvested into renewing reserves, expending production capacity, and employee training.
About Stolthaven Terminals
With a global network of 15 owned and joint-venture terminals, Stolthaven Terminals provides five million cbm of storage and distribution services for bulk liquids including chemicals, clean petroleum products, liquified petroleum gases, vegetable oils, biofuels and oleochemicals. Stolthaven’s mission is to deliver value to its customers through operating state-of-the-art terminals which complement the capabilities of its sister companies Stolt Tankers and Stolt Tank Containers, ensuring an efficient ship-to-shore interface with the aim of reducing potential demurrage costs and facilitating agile and competitive supply chains. All within an environment of assured quality, safety and environmental protection.
Stolthaven Terminals is a division of Stolt-Nielsen Limited (SNL). A long-term investor and manager of businesses focused on opportunities in logistics, distribution and aquaculture. The Stolt-Nielsen portfolio consists of its three global bulk-liquid and chemicals logistics businesses – Stolt Tankers, Stolthaven Terminals and Stolt Tank Containers – Stolt Sea Farm and investments in LNG. Stolt-Nielsen Limited is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange (Oslo Børs: SNI).
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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/ronesans-holding-to-fuel-economic-growth-with-new-2-billion-polypropylene-pp-production-plant-and-terminal-investments-in-turkiye-302430701.html
Fintech PR
PHBS Think Tank Releases Q1 2025 Macroeconomic Report

Stable Real Estate Recovery and Steady Growth in the New Economy
SHENZHEN, China, April 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The PHBS Think Tank at Peking University HSBC Business School released its Macroeconomic Analysis Report for the First Quarter of 2025, highlighting a strong start to the year for the Chinese economy. In January and February, production exceeded expectations, and the cumulative trade surplus reached a historical high for the period. However, consumption and investment grew at a slower pace.
The report outlines four key macroeconomic trends from the first quarter:
- Real Estate Market Stabilizes with Policy Support
Policy-driven measures have helped stabilize the real estate sector, with major markets showing signs of gradual recovery. - Positive Feedback Loop in Auto Exports
Investment, production, and expectations in overseas automobile markets reinforced each other in a positive cycle. Based on available data, leading enterprises remained optimistic about the impact of tariffs on new energy vehicles. - Support for the Development of New Economy
Domestic industrial policies supported investment, production, and retail in sectors such as electronics and transport equipment, helping sustain a growth cycle in new economy. - Rush to Export, with Tariff Uncertainty Ahead
A surge in exports drove temporary growth in labor-intensive goods and home appliance production. However, this momentum faces risks from future U.S. tariffs. Many enterprises have already taken steps to mitigate potential disruptions.
Looking ahead to the first half of 2025, GDP growth is projected to reach 5.0%. Export pressure may intensify in Q2 2025, and current policies may not be strong enough to significantly boost consumption. The real estate market is expected to continue its steady recovery, while manufacturers will likely expand their use of automation and smart technologies to reduce costs.
The report offers several policy recommendations: strengthen support for enterprises expanding globally through vertical specialization; boost the effectiveness of fiscal policies to stimulate consumption; ensure this year’s land reserve special bond issuance reaches at least 700 billion yuan; and accelerate fiscal and tax reforms to address structural unemployment driven by technological change.
View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/phbs-think-tank-releases-q1-2025-macroeconomic-report-302431164.html
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