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Horizon Capital Backs Preply as the First Deal of its Historic Ukraine-focused HCGF IV Fund

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KYIV, Ukraine, July 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Horizon Capital, a U.S. private equity firm investing primarily in fast-growing tech and export oriented companies in Ukraine, announced an investment into Ukrainian-founded Preply, a leading global online language learning platform. This transaction marks the first investment from Horizon Capital’s latest fund, Horizon Capital Growth Fund IV (HCGF IV), which reached $254 million at its Interim Closing on April 28, 2023.

 

 

Founded in 2012 by three Ukrainian founders Kirill Bigai, Serge Lukyanov, and Dmytro Voloshyn, Preply has become a global e-learning powerhouse, connecting 35,000 tutors with the world’s largest live language learning community. Preply revenues have grown tenfold over the last three years, largely due to significant enhancements in product experience for both tutors and learners. The B2B business has also accelerated, with over 200 new deals signed this past year. 

Horizon Capital led Preply’s $70 million capital raise, also backed by Reach Capital, Hoxton Ventures, and other existing investors. The new investor bench will provide a valuable balance of growth stage experience and Edtech expertise to help power the next leg of Preply’s journey.

Lenna Koszarny, Horizon Capital’s Founding Partner and CEO, said: “We are excited to partner with Preply’s exceptional founders and superb leadership team in delivering on their mission of unlocking human potential through learning. Preply fits perfectly into our investment thesis of backing Ukraine’s new generation of visionary entrepreneurs, while paving the way for others inspired to create their own global champion powered from Ukraine that the entire nation can take pride in. We believe the best is yet to come and are delighted that our capital will fuel future R&D, driving growth as well as high impact by creating jobs, promoting entrepreneurship, supporting tech sector development, and contributing to Ukraine’s ongoing economic resilience.”

Kirill Bigai, Co-founder and CEO of Preply, said: “It is a great achievement to have secured this capital injection while we still have plenty of runway and the majority of the previous raise in the bank; a result of rigorous capital efficiency and a laser focus on performance. The additional funds will enable us to extend our leadership in the category through AI-powered human tutors, providing a learning experience which is quickly becoming a game changer.  Though the team today is truly global, as a Ukrainian founded company with significant R&D in Ukraine, this is a milestone to be celebrated. One that echoes the resilience and determination of the Ukrainian tech sector and all Ukrainians.”

Dmytro Boroday, Partner at Horizon Capital, added: “I first met Kirill in 2012 at the start of Preply’s journey, beginning from a 10-page Powerpoint presentation and now a world-class educational technology company, fueled by bold vision and unwavering determination. Kirill, Dmytro, and Serge have executed meticulously on their vision, and a decade after our first meeting, we are proud to back Preply as a leading global edtech platform in the language learning space. We look forward to our long-term partnership resulting in Preply reaching new heights, grounded in their strong culture of operational excellence and superb performance.”

About Preply
Preply is an online language learning marketplace, connecting tutors to hundreds of thousands of learners in 180 countries worldwide. More than 35,000 tutors teach over 50 languages, powered by a machine-learning algorithm that recommends the best tutors for each learner. Founded in the United States in 2012 by three Ukrainian founders Kirill Bigai, Serge Lukyanov, and Dmytro Voloshyn, Preply has grown from a team of 3 to a company of almost 500 employees of 60 different nationalities. With offices in Barcelona, New York, and Kyiv, employees work across 30 countries in Europe, USA, Africa, Asia and Latin America.

About Horizon Capital
Horizon Capital is the leading private equity firm in Emerging Europe with $1.4 billion in assets from investors with a capital base exceeding $630 billion, raising over $700 million in growth capital to back visionary entrepreneurs from Ukraine and Moldova in just over 5 years. Horizon Capital-managed funds have invested in over 160 companies employing more than 77,000 people in the region.

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Media Contact – Alona Kotsiubynska, [email protected], +380932979487

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Xinhua Silk Road: China’s service trade fair concludes with fruitful outcomes

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BEIJING, Sept. 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — The 2024 China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) concluded in Beijing on Monday, achieving fruitful results in various fields and injecting more vitality into global economic growth.

By the noon of Monday, the five-day service trade fair had made nearly 1,000 achievements and attracted about 242,000 visitors.

About 111 companies and institutions, including Fortune Global 500 companies and industry leaders, released a total of 219 achievements in the fields of digitalization, artificial intelligence (AI), healthcare, etc., a surge of 80 compared with the previous session.

In 2023, global digital service trade reached 4.25 trillion U.S. dollars in 2023, an increase of 9 percent year on year, becoming a prominent highlight in the development of services trade.

The 2024 CIFTIS focused on new trends in the development of trade in services, with AI and innovation-driven development being the key words.

Wu Tian, vice president of Baidu, noted that in the future, more service industries and application scenarios will rely on AI technologies to achieve innovative development.

At present, new technologies and applications in the field of services trade are quickening the pace to integrate with social life and production, which is conductive to constantly open up new space for foreign trade development, said Pang Chaoran, associate researcher of the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation under the Ministry of Commerce (MOC).

It is learned that over 80 countries and international organizations held exhibitions and conferences at the fair, with 13 of them setting up independent offline exhibitions for the first time, showcasing their local traditional culture.

From a global perspective, cultural trade has great potential for development, said Pan, adding that the CIFTIS has built a platform and bridge for the high-quality development of cultural trade and activated a new engine for the development of services trade.

In addition, this year’s CIFTIS helps enterprises build a big circle of friends for win-win cooperation.

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Participating in the fair for the fifth time this year, Schneider Electric reached a new cooperation with Chinese steelmaker Jingye Group at the fair.

Xu Shaofeng, senior vice president of Schneider Electric, said that the company established a services business center in China and will sign service cooperation agreements with more Chinese partners.

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Telix to Acquire RLS to Expand North American Manufacturing and Distribution Platform

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MELBOURNE, Australia, INDIANAPOLIS and LAKE MARY, Fla., Sept. 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited (ASX: TLX, Telix, the Company) and RLS (USA) Inc. (RLS, RLS Radiopharmacies), America’s only Joint Commission-accredited radiopharmacy network distributing PET[1], SPECT[2] and therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals, today announced an agreement by the Company to acquire RLS from its parent company, RLS Group Ltd. The acquisition significantly expands Telix’s North American manufacturing footprint and establishes the basis of a next generation radiometal production network to benefit Telix and select strategic commercial partners. 

Strategic Rationale                                                      

The acquisition of RLS is aligned to Telix’s investment strategy around vertically integrated supply chain, manufacturing, and distribution, further enabling the delivery of future clinical and commercial radiopharmaceutical products. The Company views this as a necessary measure to ensure product integrity and delivery, and to strengthen and complement existing commercial partnerships.

Telix will leverage RLS’ 31 licensed radiopharmacies located in major metropolitan areas across the U.S. to build a radiometal production and distribution network for key therapeutic and diagnostic isotopes alongside last-mile delivery of finished unit doses in relevant markets. The RLS footprint includes over 100,000 square ft of appropriately licensed expansion space that can be utilised to meet rapidly growing production demand. The acquisition also provides a clear pathway to extensively deploy Telix’s ARTMS QUANTM Irradiation System™ (QIS™) cyclotron technology, enabling standardised, high-efficiency and cost-effective production of radiometals.

By augmenting its existing distribution network, Telix aims to provide additional supply chain backup and improve capacity to meet future demand, while broadening access for patients across the entire U.S. market, including under-served populations. The acquisition aligns Telix’s pharmaceutical development workforce with RLS’ highly skilled and multi-disciplinary radiopharmaceutical manufacturing, supply chain and operational expertise.

RLS will continue to service its existing customers and operate as an independent business unit under Telix Manufacturing Solutions (TMS), which includes other key Telix brands with multi-vendor and third-party relationships such as ARTMS, IsoTherapeutics and Optimal Tracers. As part of the TMS business vertical, RLS will become a key node in Telix’s network of U.S. manufacturing and distribution partnerships and is geographically complementary to TMS’ state-of-the-art GMP[3] production facility located in Belgium.

RLS’ revenue for FY23[4] was US$158 million, and the transaction is expected to be cost-neutral to Telix from an operating cash flow perspective. RLS is currently a distributor of Illuccix® and, as such, the acquisition is expected to be accretive to Telix, following completion.

Dr. Christian Behrenbruch, Telix Managing Director and Group Chief Executive Officer, said the acquisition is part of the Company’s ongoing investment focus around vertical integration and building integrated supply chains.

“Our vision is to build a radiometal production and distribution network fit for the future. By combining the ARTMS platform and the RLS network, we can scale up the production of key isotopes and build a stable and consistent supply of PET and SPECT diagnostic tracers, along with therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals across the U.S. for the benefit of Telix, our partners and the patients we serve. Telix is a trusted brand, recognised for our technical expertise, product quality, scheduling flexibility and delivery reliability. As we grow and commercialise new products, this investment ensures we can continue to deliver to this standard, alongside our key trusted distribution partners.”

Mr. Stephen Belcher, Chief Executive Officer, RLS, added, “We look forward to becoming part of the Telix Group ecosystem. The RLS management team has emphasised quality, reliability and flexibility, and by leveraging Telix’s support, we will be able to expand our capabilities further and, together, build the radiopharmaceutical company of the future. We see this as a very positive step for the company, our people and our customer base.”   

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Deal Terms and Conditions

The purchase price comprises upfront cash consideration of US$230 million before adjustments for cash and cash equivalents (net of restricted cash); debt and debt equivalents; transaction expenses; and working capital, and deferred cash consideration up to a maximum of US$20 million, contingent on achievement of certain milestones related to demonstration of accretive financial and operational performance during the four-quarters following closing. The acquisition and related transaction costs are expected to be funded from existing cash reserves.

Closing of the transaction is subject to customary conditions, including regulatory approvals, RLS shareholder approval, licence transfers and certain third-party consents. The acquisition is expected to close early in the first quarter of 2025.  

About RLS Radiopharmacies

RLS is America’s only Joint Commission-accredited radiopharmacy network, with 31 radiopharmacies covering more than 85% of the population. Every RLS radiopharmacy houses cutting-edge clean rooms and is fully equipped and aligned to USP <797>, USP <825> and ISO 14644-1 compliance standards. Every RLS radiopharmacy is led by experienced nuclear pharmacists, who, along with nuclear technicians, in-house couriers and a robust delivery fleet, ensure every SPECT, PET and therapeutic product the company offers is meticulously prepared, dispensed and distributed to the company’s more than 1,500 customers without fail. For more information, please visit rls.bio.

About Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited

Telix is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialisation of therapeutic and diagnostic radiopharmaceuticals and associated medical devices. Telix is headquartered in Melbourne, Australia, with international operations in the United States, Europe (Belgium and Switzerland), and Japan. Telix is developing a portfolio of clinical and commercial stage products that aims to address significant unmet medical needs in oncology and rare diseases. Telix is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX: TLX).

Telix’s lead imaging product, gallium-68 (68Ga) gozetotide injection (also known as 68Ga PSMA-11 and marketed under the brand name Illuccix®), has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)[5], by the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) [6], and by Health Canada[7]. No other Telix product has received a marketing authorisation in any jurisdiction.

Visit www.telixpharma.com for further information about Telix, including details of the latest share price, announcements made to the ASX, investor and analyst presentations, news releases, event details and other publications that may be of interest. You can also follow Telix on X and LinkedIn.

Telix Investor Relations

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Ms. Kyahn Williamson
Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited
SVP Investor Relations and Corporate Communications
Email: [email protected]

Telix Media Relations (U.S.)

Eliza Schleifstein
ES Media Relations
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 917-763-8106

RLS Investor Relations

Mark Elliott
RLS (USA) Inc.
VP Finance and Investor Relations
Email: [email protected]  

Legal Notices

You should read this announcement together with our risk factors, as disclosed in our most recently filed reports with the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) or on our website.

The information contained in this announcement is not intended to be an offer for subscription, invitation or recommendation with respect to securities of Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited (Telix) in any jurisdiction, including the United States. The information and opinions contained in this announcement are subject to change without notification.  To the maximum extent permitted by law, Telix disclaims any obligation or undertaking to update or revise any information or opinions contained in this announcement, including any forward-looking statements (as referred to below), whether as a result of new information, future developments, a change in expectations or assumptions, or otherwise. No representation or warranty, express or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy or completeness of the information contained or opinions expressed in the course of this announcement.

This announcement may contain forward-looking statements that relate to anticipated future events, financial performance, plans, strategies or business developments. Forward-looking statements can generally be identified by the use of words such as “may”, “expect”, “intend”, “plan”, “estimate”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “outlook”, “forecast” and “guidance”, or the negative of these words or other similar terms or expressions. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on Telix’s good-faith assumptions as to the financial, market, regulatory and other risks and considerations that exist and affect Telix’s business and operations in the future and there can be no assurance that any of the assumptions will prove to be correct. In the context of Telix’s business, forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, statements about: the initiation, timing, progress and results of Telix’s preclinical and clinical trials, and Telix’s research and development programs; Telix’s ability to advance product candidates into, enrol and successfully complete, clinical studies, including multi-national clinical trials; the timing or likelihood of regulatory filings and approvals for Telix’s product candidates, manufacturing activities and product marketing activities; Telix’s sales, marketing and distribution and manufacturing capabilities and strategies; the commercialisation of Telix’s product candidates, if or when they have been approved; Telix’s ability to obtain an adequate supply of raw materials at reasonable costs for its products and product candidates; estimates of Telix’s expenses, future revenues and capital requirements; Telix’s financial performance; developments relating to Telix’s competitors and industry; and the pricing and reimbursement of Telix’s product candidates, if and after they have been approved. Telix’s actual results, performance or achievements may be materially different from those which may be expressed or implied by such statements, and the differences may be adverse. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.

©2024 Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited. The Telix Pharmaceuticals®, Illuccix®, ARTMS® and QIS™ names and logos are trademarks of Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited and its affiliates – all rights reserved.

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[1] Positron emission tomography.

[2] Single-photon emission computed tomography. 

[3] Good Manufacturing Practice.

[4] Financial year ended 31 December 2023.

[5] Telix ASX disclosure 20 December 2021.

[6] Telix ASX disclosure 2 November 2021.

[7] Telix ASX disclosure 14 October 2022.

 

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Representatives from 57 countries, regions and 6 international organizations, are gathering in Suzhou.

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What important topics are they discussing about? Let’s find out!

BEIJING, Sept. 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — I’m Xiao Lin from National Immigration Administration. On September 9th, the first Sub-Forum on Migration Management Cooperation was successfully held. Representatives from all parties expressed their insights and appeals around the development and innovation of migration governance.

It was truly a content-rich event!

Why does the international community focus on the topic of “Migration Governance” so much?

At present, changes unseen in a century is unfolding at a faster pace. The situation in the wider world remains complex and fluid. However, peace, development, cooperation and win-win results are still an unstoppable historical trend. Migration governance is critical to economic development of individual countries, global security governance and international cultural and people-to-people exchanges. It has increasingly become a key issue in global governance.

Here are the key points:
At the forum, NIA made three commitments: implementing more open policies for the cross-border flow of people, more effective actions in the governance of transnational crimes and more extensive global cooperation in migration governance, injecting new impetus to opening up and development; At the same time, three initiatives have been put forward, [Original scene of the initiative] contributing China’s wisdom and solutions to global migration governance and further showcasing its image as an open, confident, secure, and thriving major power.

Representatives also made keynote speeches, sharing their migration governance policies, measures and experience, and providing their perspectives on regional and international migration governance.

Pooling wisdom for win-win results.

In a changing era, National Immigration Administration of China stands ready to work with all parties to promote global migration governance to a higher level and contribute more wisdom to world peace, development, prosperity and stability!

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