Fintech PR
BENTELER is about to secure a multi-million investment for autonomous HOLON Mover
- TASARU Mobility Investments intends to acquire minority stake in HOLON business for nine-digit sum
- Investment secures series development and industrialization of the autonomous, fully electric and inclusive shuttle
- Construction of three production plants planned in Europe, Saudi Arabia and the USA
SALZBURG, Austria, PADERBORN, Germany and RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Feb. 7, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — The BENTELER Group is about to secure a multi-million-dollar investment to expand its autonomous mover business: TASARU Mobility Investments, a Saudi Arabian investment company specializing in automotive initiatives, intends to acquire a minority stake in the BENTELER subsidiary HOLON for a nine-digit sum. The management of both companies signed a respective agreement.
The planned acquisition of a stake of up to 38% in HOLON by TASARU will occur in several tranches, with the first one expected in April. The transaction is subject to the necessary regulatory approvals.
The funds from TASARU will be used to further advance the series development and industrialization of the autonomous, fully electric, and inclusive mover. Specifically, the plan is to establish three production sites to market the vehicle worldwide: in Europe, Saudi Arabia and the USA.
Ralf Göttel, CEO of the BENTELER Group: “What a journey for HOLON: 2023 started with the successful world premiere of our autonomous mover at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. And now, 2024 starts with a strong partnership that will enable us to put the vehicle on the road as soon as possible. We are delighted that HOLON, one of BENTELER’s entrepreneurial successes, has also convinced external investors and that the series development as well as industrialization of our mover is now secured. Together with TASARU we will make mobility safer and more sustainable.”
The HOLON Mover is a fully electric, autonomous vehicle for use on public roads. It is one of the world’s first movers built to automotive standards – in other words, a leader in safety, ride comfort and production quality. The vehicle travels at a maximum speed of 60 kilometers per hour and can accommodate up to 15 passengers. Areas of application are on-demand services such as ridepooling and ridehailing, but also normal scheduled services.
Michael Mueller, CEO of TASARU: “HOLON’s revolutionary Mover aligns perfectly with TASARU’s vision for a smarter and more sustainable future, supporting the ambitious targets outlined in Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030. Together, we aim to unlock the Mover’s potential, bringing significant benefits to Saudi Arabia and other regions, establishing the Kingdom as a hub for autonomous mobility innovation and manufacturing.”
Henning von Watzdorf, CEO of HOLON, added: “This is a significant step for HOLON. The partnership with TASARU will allow us to accelerate the further development, industrialization and scaling of our Mover. In 2024, the focus will now be on prototype development and initial test drives. Our goal is to have the first vehicles in use as part of pilot projects by 2025. Customer interest is immense: our vehicle makes safe, inclusive, emission-free and sustainable passenger transportation possible and is therefore the answer to traffic problems in cities, climate change and demographics.”
The HOLON Mover is barrier free, offering an automated ramp, secured wheelchair space, and auditory and visual assistance for passengers. The design comes from renowned design company Pininfarina and the autonomous driving technology from the Intel subsidiary Mobileye. One of the first pilot projects for the use of the vehicle is the city of Hamburg, Germany. The Federal Ministry of Digital and Transport recently provided €26 million funding for a corresponding project.
About BENTELER
BENTELER is a global company serving customers in automotive technology, the energy sector and mechanical engineering. As metal processing specialists, we develop, produce and distribute safety-related products, systems and services worldwide.
Our around 23,000 employees at 87 locations in 26 countries offer first-class manufacturing and distribution competence – all dedicated to delivering a first-class service wherever our customers need us.
www.benteler.com
https://www.facebook.com/BENTELER.Career
https://www.linkedin.com/company/benteler-group
https://www.instagram.com/benteler_group/
About HOLON
HOLON is a subsidiary of BENTELER. With well-founded know-how in automotive technology and industrialization as well as the continuous implementation of new technologies for electromobility, the company develops autonomous movers for the vehicle market of the future. To do this, HOLON works with technology companies, local public transport companies and mobility-as-a-service providers.
Contact details:
Stephan Knüttel
Vice President Communications/Marketing
Paderborn, Germany
Tel.: +49 5254 81 307 610 | Mobile: +49 172 5727 257
E-Mail: [email protected]
Harald Weber
Communications Specialist
Salzburg, Austria
Tel.: +43 662 2283 101047 | Mobile: +43 664 8235 605
E-Mail: [email protected]
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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/benteler-is-about-to-secure-a-multi-million-investment-for-autonomous-holon-mover-302056288.html
Fintech PR
BitGo Appoints Brett Reeves as Head of European Sales Complementing his Go Network Role
PALO ALTO, Calif., Jan. 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — BitGo, the leading digital asset infrastructure solutions provider since 2013, is pleased to announce that Brett Reeves has been appointed Head of European Sales, a role he takes on in addition to his existing position as Head of Go Network. His new title is Head of Go Network and European Sales.
Brett joined in May 2024 and has since then overseen the expansion of BitGo’s presence in Europe, which includes onboarding new clients and partners and expanding the volume and scope of business across multiple jurisdictions within the European Union and UK.
Brett Reeves, Head of Go Network and European Sales, said:
“Since joining BitGo last year, it has been an intense and rewarding journey. Alongside growing the business our focus has been on obtaining the necessary licenses to achieve MiCA compliance, ensuring we are fully prepared for a comprehensive rollout of our Custody, Wallets, Staking, Trading and Financing services across Europe. With a growing team and increasing demand for secure, well-regulated digital asset solutions, we are highly optimistic about the opportunities 2025 holds for us.”
Brett has twenty years’ experience in the financial services industry having worked at Citibank, Nomura and Standard Chartered Bank. His background includes working within Prime Brokerage and OTC teams within the FX and interest rates markets. Most recently Brett was the Head of Business Development at the Bequant, a regulated digital asset Prime Broker.
About BitGo
BitGo is the leading infrastructure provider of digital asset solutions, offering custody, wallets, staking, trading, financing, and settlement out of regulated cold storage. Founded in 2013, BitGo is the first digital asset company to focus exclusively on serving institutional clients. BitGo is dedicated to advancing a digital financial services economy that is borderless and accessible 24/7. With multiple Trust companies around the world, BitGo is the preferred security and operational backbone for more than 1,500 institutional clients in 50 countries, including many of the world’s top brands, cryptocurrency exchanges, and platforms. BitGo also secures approximately 20% of all on-chain Bitcoin transactions by value and is the largest independent digital asset custodian.
W: https://www.bitgo.uk/
L: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bitgo/
X: https://x.com/BitGo
View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/bitgo-appoints-brett-reeves-as-head-of-european-sales-complementing-his-go-network-role-302350962.html
Fintech PR
Markel elevates Wanshi Lin to newly created Head of Singapore position
SINGAPORE, Jan. 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Markel, the insurance operations within Markel Group Inc. (NYSE: MKL), today announced that Wanshi Lin has been appointed as the Head of Singapore, effective immediately.
In this newly created position, Lin will oversee the company’s underwriting team in Singapore and spearhead business planning and market engagement on the company’s Lloyd’s Singapore platform. The establishment of a new leadership role in Singapore is demonstrative of Markel’s ongoing commitment to expanding its Asia Pacific operations and underwriting capabilities.
Lin will report to Christian Stobbs, Managing Director – Asia Pacific, in her new capacity.
Stobbs commented: “I’m thrilled about the energy and innovative ideas Wanshi will bring to this pivotal role. Singapore is our largest marketplace in the region for specialty products, and I’m confident that, under her leadership, we’ll further enhance our relationships with brokers and clients while building on the strong momentum achieved in recent years.”
Kevin Leung, Chief Underwriting Officer – Asia Pacific, adds: “It’s a delight to see Wanshi progress to take on this role. Her extensive experience, strategic insight and understanding of the Singapore market will be instrumental in strengthening our commitment to providing underwriting excellence to this important regional hub.”
Lin joined Markel in 2018 as an Assistant Underwriter – Marine, and since 2023 has been Senior Underwriter – Marine. Prior to Markel, Lin was Assistant Vice President at Marsh Singapore.
About Markel
We are Markel, a leading global specialty insurer with a truly people-first approach. As the insurance operations within Markel Group Inc. (NYSE: MKL), we operate the Markel Specialty, Markel International, and Markel Global Reinsurance divisions, as well as State National, our portfolio protection and program services operations, and Nephila, our insurance-linked securities operations. Our broad array of capabilities and expertise allow us to create intelligent solutions for the most complex risk management needs. However, it is our people – and the deep, valued relationships they develop with colleagues, brokers and clients – that differentiates us worldwide.
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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/markel-elevates-wanshi-lin-to-newly-created-head-of-singapore-position-302350760.html
Fintech PR
FinVolution’s SVP Ming Gu speaks at Asian Financial Forum, highlighting opportunities in CreditTech for Southeast Asia’s underserved
HONG KONG, Jan. 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — FinVolution Group (NYSE: FINV), a leading fintech service provider in the pan-Asian region, reaffirmed its commitment yesterday to advancing financial inclusion through cutting-edge credit technology and strategic partnerships at the Asian Financial Forum 2025 in Hong Kong.
Dr. Ming Gu, Senior Vice President of FinVolution Group, shared his insights on how fintech innovation is transforming access to credit for underserved populations in Southeast Asia.
“Fintech is creating new pathways for underserved populations to access credit and financial support, empowering them to invest in their futures,” he said at a thematic workshop on the future of fintech in Southeast Asia.
Driving financial inclusion through innovation
Gu emphasized FinVolution’s mission to bridge the gap between financial institutions and underserved communities by leveraging advanced credit technology.
The company has built its business around serving young workers and small business owners from grassroots backgrounds, whose financial needs are often overlooked by traditional banks and other financial institutions.
Through user-friendly digital lending platforms and collaborations with local partners, FinVolution has supported over 6 million borrowers and facilitated loans exceeding US$3 billion in its markets outside China as of Q3 2024.
FinVolution’s AI-powered tools enable financial institutions to better assess creditworthiness, particularly for those without traditional credit histories, Gu explained.
Opportunities and challenges in Southeast Asia’s market
Gu highlighted Southeast Asia’s potential as a key growth market for fintech, driven by its young population, e-commerce growth, and credit-driven consumption habits.
“Very few regions in this world can meet all these criteria,” he said, highlighting the underpinnings of Southeast Asia’s ascent as a fintech powerhouse. “Digital lending always goes hand in hand with the growth of e-commerce.”
“The number one factor driving financial inclusion and literacy is GDP per capita,” Gu said. “Fintech and other technologies serve as a tool to facilitate this process, but it is GDP per capita that remains the cornerstone of development.”
For instance, Indonesia’s ambitious Golden Indonesia 2045 Vision aims to accelerate the nation’s economic growth by at least 5% annually over the next two decades.
This initiative reflects the nation’s commitment to fostering financial inclusion and leveraging technology as a catalyst for sustainable progress.
“Indonesia is the place to watch over the next five to 10 years,” Gu added. “We are very bullish on Southeast Asia.”
Symbiotic relationship with regulators and financial partners
Despite these opportunities, challenges such as the lack of credit histories and increasing fraud risks persist, threatening the future of fintech in this region.
FinVolution combats these issues with advanced proprietary risk management systems and fraud prevention technologies.
Gu stressed the collaboration with regulators and financial institutions in creating a robust and inclusive financial ecosystem.
FinVolution itself adheres to stringent regulatory standards, securing necessary licenses and aligning with local laws. This endeavor coincides with steady improvements to Southeast Asia’s regulatory stringency in recent years, which are credited for creating an environment conducive to fintech innovation.
“I believe a symbiotic relationship between regulators and fintechs like us is crucial to Southeast Asia’s rise as a key global fintech hub,” Gu noted.
With over 100 financial institution partners, including digital banks and consumer finance companies, FinVolution provides end-to-end credit tech solutions that streamline processes and expand outreach.
FinVolution Group remains dedicated to driving financial inclusion and innovation in Southeast Asia. With a focus on technology and collaboration, the company aims to empower individuals and communities while fostering a thriving fintech ecosystem in the region.
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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/finvolutions-svp-ming-gu-speaks-at-asian-financial-forum-highlighting-opportunities-in-credittech-for-southeast-asias-underserved-302351545.html
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