Fintech PR
Deribit first derivatives exchange to receive VARA Regulatory Approval
- Deribit selects Dubai as new Headquarters.
- Licence remains subject to fulfilment of specific conditions and qualifying for operational approval.
- Luuk Strijers (Current Chief Commercial Officer) appointed as new CEO of Deribit.
DUBAI, UAE, April 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Deribit FZE, the Dubai entity of Deribit group, the world’s leading crypto derivative options platform, today announced it has received a conditional Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) licence from Dubai’s Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority (VARA) for VA Exchange Services. The licence covers both spot and derivatives trading and remains non-operational until Deribit fully satisfies all remaining conditions and select localisation requirements defined by VARA.
Deribit is relocating the firm’s global headquarters to Dubai and has also appointed Luuk Strijers as the Chief Executive Officer alongside two Non-Executive Directors. The firm will work closely with VARA to complete the last formal steps in the process to enable it to officially launch the exchange in Dubai.
Once operational, Deribit will serve institutional and qualified investors, enabling them to utilise the platform´s leading technology. The firm will also continue to serve its retail client base from its broker affiliate in Panama, which is a member of Deribit FZE in Dubai until further notice.
Deribit will soon share launch plans, terms and the exact timing to start operating under the new licensed entity.
Luuk Strijers, the new CEO, joined the firm in 2019 as Chief Commercial Officer. With almost 20 years in the industry (e.g. former SGX) Strijers brings a solid background in both product development and client engagement to his new role.
Strijers commented on the news, “Being appointed CEO at this crucial time is a huge honour. VARA’s progressive regulatory framework opens up vast opportunities in the digital asset realm. Our strong position in the crypto options market reflects the trust our clients have in us. I’m thrilled to work with our loyal clientele and drive Deribit’s innovation, as we continue to lead in the evolving crypto marketplace.”
Deribit has also disclosed that Dennis Dijkstra, Former CEO of Flow Traders, and industry veteran Willem Meijer, will become Non-Executive Directors (NEDs) for Deribit. As NEDs, Dijkstra and Meijer will be assisting in advising on the long-term growth strategy of the company and ensuring that Deribit continues to position itself as a successful and profitable market leader.
John Jansen, Co-Founder of Deribit, commented on today’s news, “Today marks a monumental chapter in Deribit’s story. Securing the conditional VASP license from VARA is not just a regulatory milestone; it’s a sign of our unwavering commitment to providing a secure, transparent, and innovative platform for our users. The appointment of a new CEO and two seasoned NEDs signifies a fusion of fresh insights and extensive experience, fortifying our strategy for long-term growth. As we anchor our operations in Dubai, we’re not only extending our reach but also reaffirming our resolve to remain the platform of choice for trading. This is a giant stride towards realising our ambitious vision, and it invigorates our journey in steering the crypto industry to new horizons.”
About Deribit
Deribit is a centralized, institutional-grade crypto derivatives exchange for options and futures. Deribit’s state-of-the-art infrastructure offers instantaneous price discovery, low latency trading, advanced risk mitigation services, and deep liquidity via its network of top-tier market makers. Led by a team with decades of experience in options trading across all markets, Deribit facilitates a significant majority of all crypto options trading and has robust proof of assets and liabilities procedures to ensure the exchange is held to the highest of standards. Deribit has been consistently acknowledged as a leader in space as one of few exchanges to secure the ISO 27001 certificate and was named Best Exchange for Innovation by Hedgeweek.
For additional information, visit: www.deribit.com
About VARA
Established in March 2022, following the effect of Law No.4 of 2022, VARA is the competent entity in charge of regulating, supervising, and overseeing VAs and VA Activities in all zones across the Emirate of Dubai, including Special Development Zones and Free Zones but excluding the Dubai International Financial Centre. VARA plays a central role in creating Dubai’s advanced legal framework to protect investors and establish international standards for Virtual Asset industry governance, while supporting the vision for a borderless economy.
For more information visit: www.vara.ae
Media Contact
M Group Strategic Communications (On behalf of Deribit)
deribitpr@mgroupsc.com
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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/deribit-first-derivatives-exchange-to-receive-vara-regulatory-approval-302105131.html
WEST ATLANTIC CITY, N.J., March 14, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The Great Bay Insurance Group (the “Group”), a leading provider of coastal homeowners’ insurance in New Jersey, today announced the following leadership changes. Timothy J. Byrne, Jr., has been named as President of the Group and Ronald R. Lovatt has been named President of Great Bay Insurance Company, a wholly owned affiliate of the Group.
Mr. Byrne Jr. has nearly 15 years of industry experience and previously served as the Group’s Chief Operating Officer overseeing the Groups operations and underwriting strategies.
Mr. Timothy J. Byrne, Sr., Chief Executive Officer of the Group, added, “I’m excited to announce the promotion of Tim Jr. to the role of President of The Great Bay Insurance Group and Ron to the role of President of Great Bay Insurance Company. Tim Jr. and Ron have been an integral part of the Group since its founding in 2019.”
As President, Tim Jr. will provide oversight for all corporate support functions and will continue to report to Tim Sr.
Mr. Byrne Jr. holds a BS in Economic and Mathematics from the University of Vermont, an MBA in Risk Management and Insurance from St. John’s University and holds a CPCU designation.
Mr. Lovatt has 40 years of broad insurance industry experience in leadership capacities with international, national, regional and start-up insurance companies. Ron is a founding member of The Great Bay Insurance Group, working with Tim Sr. & Tim Jr. to launch Great Bay in late 2019. Ron currently serves as Chief Underwriting Officer & Chief Claims Officer for The Great Bay Insurance Group, has an MBA from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics, Finance, Accounting & Marketing from Miami University.
Contact:
Investor Relations
Brian Schleider, CPA
Chief Financial Officer
609-434-2000, x102
brian.schleider@greatbayinsure.com
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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/great-bay-insurance-group-announces-executive-changes-302401923.html
Fintech PR
Forward Global responds to surge in UK shareholder activism with launch of UK Corporate Contests Practice
LONDON, March 14, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — International risk management firm Forward Global launched its UK Corporate Contests Practice on Tuesday in response to what is described as “all-time high of shareholder activism” in London and Paris.
Speaking ahead of the launch on Tuesday night, Brendan Foo, Partner and Global Head of Corporate Contests at Forward Global, said “As activism gains currency as an asset class, savvy investors are looking toward the UK and Europe to generate alpha. Indeed, in 2025 alone, we have seen an unprecedented demand for our services not just in our traditional strongholds of the US and Canada, but also in the UK and Europe. This reflects the surge in activist (and active) engagements, with which our team is uniquely well-placed to assist.”
Forward Global’s Corporate Contests Practice was established to meet demand from law firms, investors, and advisers to provide a comprehensive suite of services to support companies in high-stakes shareholder engagements. In keeping with the firm’s established activism practice in the US, the new London offering will deliver investigative and intelligence work such as vetting board nominees, relationship mapping, scrutinizing the track records of both incumbents and challengers, and conducting deep-dive reputation analyses. In Europe, Forward Global’s Patrice Lambert-de Diesbach offers clients battle-tested expertise in investor relations and financial communications.
Shareholder activism in the UK has expanded significantly, with campaigns becoming more frequent and sophisticated. In 2023, the number of new public activist campaigns in Europe surged by 68%, with the UK remaining a primary target. US-based activist investors have also increased their focus on UK firms, launching 40% of all UK activist campaigns in 2024. With contested boardroom battles and regulatory shifts on the rise, the expansion of Forward Global’s Corporate Contests practice into the UK is well-timed, equipping issuers with the intelligence and strategies needed to navigate this evolving landscape.
The firm launched the new practice at an exclusive gathering at the International Institute of Strategic Studies in London, bringing together leading voices from the shareholder activism space to discuss the evolving landscape of transatlantic shareholder activism.
The panel discussion, featuring Brendan Foo, Patrick J. McHugh of Okapi Partners, and Sebastian Fain of Freshfields, explored critical considerations for US investors entering the UK market and vice versa, differences in engagement styles across jurisdictions, and strategies for issuers to proactively engage with both activist and active investors. Panelists also examined the impact of anti-DEI and ESG sentiment on investor relations in the UK, as well as how issuers can adapt to evolving regulatory and institutional expectations.
John Watts, Managing Partner of Forward Global UK, added, “Forward Global’s new UK Corporate Contests Practice is designed to provide companies with the strategic intelligence and investigative depth needed to navigate an increasingly complex activist landscape. Our team is committed to equipping clients with the tools to engage proactively with investors, safeguard their strategic interests, and strengthen shareholder relations across Europe.”
Notes for Editors
Forward Global is an international group, with its historic headquarters in France, boasting five main offices in Paris, Brussels, London, Miami, and Washington. As a leading player in risk management with over 450 employees and 30 partners, Forward Global offers an integrated approach across the three major risks: digital, economic, and informational.
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View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/forward-global-responds-to-surge-in-uk-shareholder-activism-with-launch-of-uk-corporate-contests-practice-302402058.html
NEW YORK, March 14, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) provides a daily pre-market update directly from the NYSE Trading Floor. Access today’s NYSE Pre-market update for market insights before trading begins.
Alison Kosik delivers the pre-market update on March 14th
- Investors welcomed a cooler-than-expected Producer Price Index reading for the month of February as tariff talk continues out of Washington D.C.
- Attention shifts to the Federal Reserve decisions coming next week as inflation data suggests the rate of inflation growth could be slowing.
- S&P 500 looks to rebound after ending yesterday in correction territory, which is a decline of at least 10% from a recent high.
Watch NYSE TV Live every weekday 9:00-10:00am ET
Video – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2641945/NYSE_March_14_2025_Market_Update.mp4
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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/nyse-content-advisory-pre-market-update-for-march-14-2025-302401916.html
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