LONDON, Dec. 19, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — As the fourth quarter of 2024 draws to a close, the world of finance has been marked by significant developments, including escalating Middle East tensions driving up oil prices and China’s aggressive stimulus measures to rejuvenate its economy. In this vibrant and challenging economic landscape, Pan Finance Magazine is excited to announce the upcoming release of its highly anticipated 2024 Q4 edition.

This issue offers insightful analyses and in-depth articles covering pivotal topics such as ‘Can China’s Stimulus Blitz Fix Its Flagging Economy’ and ‘How the Trump Presidency Might Change the Global Economy.’ Readers will explore the implications of rising oil prices on the cost-of-living crisis, strategies to reverse Britain’s chronic underinvestment in energy, and innovative solutions like nuclear fusion to meet AI’s energy demands. Additionally, the edition features pieces on the EU’s new satellite constellation RIS for communications autonomy, tackling human error in cybersecurity, the potential threats of AI superintelligence, and the role of finance in addressing the world’s biodiversity crisis.

Furthermore, Pan Finance continues to shine a spotlight on a variety of topics by highlighting leading examples of best practice across the financial services sector and beyond. Established to be a true measure of excellence, the Pan Finance awards look beyond the realm of the balance sheet alone, measuring success through innovation, stewardship of the environment and positive impact on society.

Ivan Suasti, CEO, SG Consulting LLC, stated, “We are deeply honored to receive the Capital Management Solutions Provider of the Year Ecuador 2024 award. This recognition is a testament to the hard work, dedication, and expertise of our entire team at SG Consulting Group. We are grateful to all our colleagues who have contributed to this achievement. This award reinforces our commitment to providing exceptional financial solutions and adhering to the highest industry standards. We see this as a significant milestone, but it’s just the beginning. We look forward to continuing our journey of innovation and excellence, delivering value to our clients and contributing to the growth of the financial services industry.”

“Faes & Co is honored to be named the winner of the ‘Private Credit Firm of the Year – USA 2024′ award from Pan Finance. This recognition is really appreciated by the whole team at our firm, who have worked tirelessly to advance our mission to provide a consistent, stable, asset-backed return for our investors. We’d like to thank Pan Finance for the recognition and congratulate the other winners of the awards,” said Christian Faes, CEO of Faes & Co.

Gene Yoo, CEO of Resecurity, said, “Resecurity is excited to receive an award from PAN Finance in one of the core categories – Digital Risk. Our team is proud to protect major financial institutions and Fortune 100 companies worldwide, ensuring cyber resilience and trust among consumers.”

Pan Finance is delighted to announce the following award winners in the Q4 2024 edition:

Absa Mauritius – ESG Innovator of the Year – Mauritius 2024

Absa Mauritius – Most Innovative Digital Banking Services – Mauritius 2024

Arc & Co. – Capital Advisory Firm of the Year – UK 2024 –

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BDSwiss – Best Educational Broker – Global 2024 –

Faes & Co – Private Credit Firm of the Year – USA 2024 –

Numarqe – Corporate Credit Solutions Provider of the Year – Europe 2024

Paxon – Financial Advisory of the Year – Asia Pacific 2024 –

Resecurity – Best Cybersecurity Platform for Digital Risk Management – MENA 2024 –

Riskalyze – Best SaaS for Wealth Management Firms – USA 2024 –

SG Consulting – Capital Management Solutions Provider of the Year – Ecuador 2024 –

Tayseer – Best Islamic Auto Financing Solutions – Saudi Arabia 2024 –

Wysh – Most Innovative Financial Protection Solutions – USA 2024 –

Wysh – Excellence in Financial Inclusion – USA 2024 –

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XM – FX & CFD Broker of the Year – Europe & Middle East 2024 –

To learn more about these award winners, pick up the latest issue of Pan Finance magazine, available now:

Pan Finance Magazine Q4 2024 

Featuring articles from:

Samia Suluhu Hassan, president of the United Republic of Tanzania; Kenneth Rogoff, former chief economist of the International Monetary Fund, professor of economics and public policy at Harvard University, recipient of the 2011 Deutsche Bank Prize in Financial Economics, co-author (with Carmen M. Reinhart) of This Time is Different: Eight Centuries of Financial Folly (Princeton University Press, 2011), author of the forthcoming book Our Dollar, Your Problem (Yale University Press, 2025); Howard Davies, first chairman of the United Kingdom’s Financial Services Authority (1997-2003), chairman of NatWest Group, former director of the London School of Economics (2003-11), former deputy governor of the Bank of England, director-general of the Confederation of British Industry.

About Pan Finance

Each quarter Pan Finance delivers key information through time-sensitive financial news covering world markets, industry analysis and c-suite level interviews. Content from renowned academics and leading professionals provides an accessible view of global trends, with a focus on finance, economics, infrastructure, technology and sustainability – www.panfinance.net

Contact information

Olu Emmanuel
Head of Research & Awards
+44 (0) 208 090 0874
[email protected]
[email protected]

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In one of the most benefited sectors, international gaming companies are raising the order value from Brazilian customers

CURITIBA, Brazil, Dec. 19, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — In Brazil, global companies offering instalments as a payment solution experience an average weekly revenue growth of 40%, as revealed by internal data from EBANX, a global technology platform specialising in payment services for rising markets. This trend is particularly pronounced in the gaming sector, where the Average Order Value (AOV) with instalments increases by 98% compared to single-payment transactions.

Eduardo de Abreu, Vice President of Product at EBANX, explained that instalments are a cultural phenomenon in Brazil, rooted in the country’s history of high inflation in the 1980s and early 1990s. “Over time, instalments have become deeply ingrained in Brazilian and all Latin American cultures, providing consumers with a convenient and accessible way to make purchases, especially for higher-ticket values,” de Abreu added.

Latin America has emerged as the next frontier for the international expansion of gaming companies. The industry revenue in the region is projected to grow by 6.2% in 2024, surpassing Asia-Pacific’s growth rate of 1.5%, North America’s 0.6%, and Europe’s 3.2%, according to market research firm Newzoo. The latest data from EBANX on instalments outlines a strategy for international companies to access Latin America’s growing gaming market.

Offering instalment payments has already proven to be a key growth strategy for merchants in Brazil. For instance, after introducing this payment solution, a gaming platform processing transactions through EBANX saw a 169% increase in AOV over the course of one year. Another gaming company experienced a 14% weekly revenue boost after adding instalments as an option for customers.

“This merchant was even able to reconnect with its clients because of this feature,” said de Abreu. After the company began offering instalments, 30% of Brazilian customers who hadn’t purchased in one month returned to make higher-value payments. Today, nearly half of this merchant’s transaction volume in Brazil is driven by instalments.

The VP of Product pointed out that “understanding how customers behave in different markets is essential to unlocking greater opportunities.” De Abreu explained that by providing tailored solutions with traditional and alternative payment methods for Latin American gamers, global companies can navigate the region’s unique market dynamics, ensuring seamless transactions and boosting user engagement.

ABOUT EBANX

EBANX is the leading payment platform connecting global companies with customers from the fastest-growing digital markets in the world. The company was founded in 2012 in Brazil with the mission of giving people access to buy in international digital commerce. With powerful proprietary technology and infrastructure, combined with in-depth knowledge of the markets where it operates, EBANX enables global businesses to connect with hundreds of payment methods in different countries in Latin America, Africa, and Asia. EBANX goes beyond payments, increasing sales, and fostering seamless purchase experiences for businesses and clients.

For further information, please visit:
Website: https://www.ebanx.com/en/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ebanx

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Leonardo Stamillo
[email protected]
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• Financing led by OrbiMed, Avoro Capital, and Samsara BioCapital, with additional investment from founding investor Medicxi
• Strengthens its leadership team with the appointments of industry veterans Rick Anderson as SVP Finance, Spencer Fisk as Chief Technical and Quality Officer, and Ling Zeng as General Counsel and EVP of Execution 
• IND-enabling studies underway for first-in-class PD1/VEGFR2 bifunctional antibody

LONDON and BOSTON, Dec. 19, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Ottimo Pharma (“Ottimo”), a private biotech company pioneering bifunctional medicines to extend the lives of people living with cancer, today announces the completion of a Series A financing round of over $140 million. The financing will accelerate the lead asset, Jankistomig, a first-in-class PD1/VEGFR2 bifunctional antibody for multiple solid tumor indications, in both IV and SC forms as well as a pipeline of follow-on bifunctional assets.

The round was led by OrbiMed, Avoro Capital, Samsara BioCapital, and included blue chip investors RTW Investments, Decheng Capital, Janus Henderson Investors, J.P. Morgan Life Sciences Private Capital, Invus, and founding investor Medicxi. In connection with the financing Peter Thompson (OrbiMed), Mark Chin (Avoro Capital), and Srini Akkaraju (Samsara BioCapital) will join the Board of Directors.

Simultaneously, Ottimo has expanded its management team under the leadership of David Epstein, Chair and Chief Executive Officer. The Company announces the appointment of Rick Anderson as SVP Finance, Spencer Fisk as Chief Technical and Quality Officer, and Ling Zeng as General Counsel and EVP of Execution. Rick, Spencer, and Ling bring extensive pharma experience, having held senior roles at Seagen, Novartis, and Dicerna Pharmaceuticals.

Ottimo, co-founded by Medicxi and Jonny Finlay, emerged from stealth in October 2024. It is advancing IND-enabling studies for lead molecule Jankistomig, with a planned IND filing in late 2025.

Jankistomig is a first-in-class PD1/VEGFR2 bifunctional antibody that is differentiated from bispecific antibodies. It is exquisitely designed as a dual pathway, biparatopic single-agent IgG therapy, targeting immune checkpoint inhibition and angiogenesis in the treatment of cancer. This innovative approach aims to offer a wider therapeutic window regardless of tumor VEGF levels, with the potential to improve outcomes across multiple solid tumor indications. Jankistomig is expected to address a global oncology market valued at well over $50 billion. 

David Epstein, Chair & Chief Executive Officer of Ottimo Pharma, said: “The successful completion of our Series A financing marks a milestone for Ottimo as we advance our goal to make first-in-class bifunctional medicines to extend the lives of people living with cancer. Jankistomig represents a significant breakthrough with its novel design and mechanism of action, and we are incredibly grateful to have the backing of such well-renowned healthcare investors. With the addition of Rick, Spencer, and Ling, we have assembled a proven leadership team to progress Ottimo to our first IND by late 2025.”

Peter Thompson, General Partner at OrbiMed, Board Director of Ottimo Pharma, commented: “Ottimo’s unique approach has differentiated itself in the PD1/VEGF field. We are looking forward to working alongside this experienced team with their extensive track record to develop new cancer treatments with improved outcomes for patients.”

Francesco De Rubertis, Co-Founder and Partner at Medicxi, Board Director of Ottimo Pharma added: “Ottimo has shown considerable progress with Jankistomig. As a co-founder of the Company, we are pleased to welcome top-tier investors including OrbiMed, Avoro Capital, and Samsara BioCapital to the syndicate as we advance the pipeline to address multiple solid tumor indications.”

Fredric (Rick) Anderson has more than 30 years of leadership experience in strategic financial and operations management. Rick was the Vice President, Corporate Controller for Seagen Inc. from 2018, where he supported the Company’s growth and international expansion. He was a key member of the leadership team that led the $44 billion acquisition by Pfizer and supported the post-acquisition integration. Rick holds an MBA from the University of San Diego. He started his career as a CPA for Ernst & Young and later joined their mergers & acquisition group.

Spencer Fisk has more than 30 years of experience in manufacturing and CMC product development. Spencer joins Ottimo from National Resilience, Inc. where he transformed the R&D focus to deliver on disruptive approaches to accelerate multi-modality drug development. From 2018 to 2022, he served as the Chief Technical Operations Officer at Rubius Therapeutics. Before Rubius he held senior roles at Novartis AG where he led the team to the successful registration and launch of the first CAR-T cellular therapy product, Kymriah. Prior to Novartis, Spencer held various technical development and manufacturing roles at Merck, Genentech, Genencor, and Novo Nordisk.

Ling Zeng, Esq. was previously Chief Legal and Administrative Officer and a member of the executive leadership team of Omega Therapeutics. Prior to Omega, she was the Chief Legal Officer and Secretary of Dicerna Pharmaceuticals and played a critical role in executing the Company’s strategy including the $3.3 billion acquisition by Novo Nordisk in 2021. Before working in biotech companies, Ling was Deputy Head Legal, Group Mergers and Acquisitions, at Novartis AG, responsible for global transactions across the Novartis Group. From 2009 to 2017, Ling held various executive roles of increasing responsibility at Bausch Health Companies.

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About Ottimo Pharma
Ottimo Pharma is a private biotechnology company, co-founded in 2020 by Medicxi and Jonny Finlay, focused on the development of pioneering innovative cancer therapies for solid tumors. The Company’s lead asset, Jankistomig, is a PD1/VEGFR2 bifunctional antibody designed as a dual pathway, biparatopic single-agent IgG therapy, targeting both immune checkpoint inhibition and angiogenesis in the treatment of cancer. By advancing this dual-pathway approach, Ottimo aims to offer a wider therapeutic window, improve cancer treatment outcomes and reduce the overall healthcare burden. Ottimo anticipates filing of its first IND in late 2025.

Ottimo is backed by a global syndicate of life science investors including Medicxi, OrbiMed, Avoro Capital, Samsara BioCapital, RTW Investments, Decheng Capital, Janus Henderson Investors, J.P. Morgan Life Sciences Private Capital, and Invus. The Ottimo board includes Francesco De Rubertis, Co-Founder and Partner of Medicxi, Peter Thompson, General Partner at OrbiMed, Mark Chin, Partner at Avoro Capital, and Srinivas Akkaraju, founder, and Managing General Partner at Samsara BioCapital, alongside David Epstein and James Sabry. For more information, please visit: www.ottimopharma.com.

About OrbiMed
OrbiMed is a leading healthcare investment firm, with $17 billion in assets under management. OrbiMed invests globally across the healthcare industry, from start-ups to large multinational corporations, through private equity funds, public equity funds, and royalty/credit funds. OrbiMed seeks to be a capital provider of choice, providing tailored financing solutions and extensive global team resources to help build world-class healthcare companies. OrbiMed’s team of over 100 professionals is based in New York City, London, San Francisco, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Mumbai, Herzliya, and other key global markets. For more information, please visit www.orbimed.com. Follow us on X (formerly Twitter) @OrbiMed.

About Avoro Capital
Avoro Capital is a global life sciences investment firm with over $6.5 billion in capital primarily focused on supporting emerging life sciences and biotechnology companies. For more information, please visit: www.avorocapital.com

About Samsara BioCapital
Samsara BioCapital is a new breed of biotech investment firm focused on translating cutting-edge biology into new therapies to treat patients with unmet medical needs. Founded in 2016 by Srinivas Akkaraju, M.D., Ph.D., our team of scientists, investors and entrepreneurs takes a long-term view on value creation across all stages of public and private life science companies. We believe in a collaborative, hands-on approach, working closely with entrepreneurs to harness exciting scientific advances and build leading companies. Samsara actively manages assets on behalf of endowments, foundations, and family offices. For more information, please visit www.samsaracap.com. 

About Medicxi
Medicxi is a healthcare-focused investment firm with the mission to create and invest in companies across the full drug development continuum. Leveraging deep expertise in drug development and company creation spanning over two decades, Medicxi invests in early and late-stage therapeutics with a product vision that can fulfill a clear unmet medical need. For more information, please visit: www.medicxi.com

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