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WTA and PIF create the PIF WTA Maternity Fund Program, the first-ever paid maternity leave for professional tennis players
A defining moment in women’s sports
- The pioneering initiative, supported by PIF and championed by the WTA Players’ Council, marks the first time in women’s sports history that comprehensive maternity benefits are available to independent, self-employed athletes
- New PIF WTA Maternity Fund Program, a first-of-its-kind and the only maternity program in women’s sports to be fully funded and supported by an external partner, provides up to 12 months of paid maternity leave
- The PIF WTA Maternity Fund Program empowers women tennis players, by providing the support and flexibility to pursue professional careers and build families
INDIAN WELLS, Calif., March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — PIF and the WTA today announced the introduction of the PIF WTA Maternity Fund Program, a groundbreaking initiative that provides eligible WTA players with the financial support and comprehensive resources to start or expand their families. PIF is the WTA’s Global Partner.
Through the PIF WTA Maternity Fund Program, WTA players will for the first time receive paid maternity leave up to 12 months, and have access to grants for fertility treatments to build families, as well as other benefits. From launch, the PIF WTA Maternity Fund Program will offer benefits to more than 320 eligible WTA players.
The PIF WTA Maternity Fund Program reflects the WTA and PIF’s shared ambition to grow women’s professional tennis, inspire more women and girls around the world to take up the game, and help address some of the challenges faced by female athletes. Since the inception of the PIF and WTA partnership in May 2024, maternity support has been identified as a key area for collaboration and a vital initiative by the WTA Players’ Council, which represents the interests of players.
Portia Archer, WTA CEO, said: “It can be challenging to balance the physical and emotional demands of a professional tennis career with the complexities of motherhood and family life. For some time, we have been exploring how we can increase our support for players to help them become parents at a time of their choice. We are delighted that our partnership with PIF allows us to realize a key ambition to offer paid maternity and parental leave to more than 320 eligible WTA players. This initiative will provide the current and next generation of players the support and flexibility to explore family life, in whatever form they choose.”
Alanoud Althonayan, Head of Events and Sponsorships at PIF, said: “PIF partnerships are designed to elevate every level of sport and leave a legacy of transformative impact on a global scale. Our partnership with WTA is built on a shared ambition, aligned with PIF’s vision, purpose and values. The PIF WTA Maternity Fund Program – a first-of-its-kind and the only maternity program in women’s sports to be fully funded and supported by an external partner – opens new pathways to motherhood while creating a more inclusive environment where athletes can thrive in both their professional and personal lives.”
Marina Storti, WTA Ventures CEO: “This ground-breaking initiative is a perfect demonstration of the power of partnership to help drive positive change for women’s tennis. As a WTA global partner, PIF has shown a strong commitment to our sport and has worked closely with us and our players to develop the PIF WTA Maternity Fund Program over the last year. We thank them for their valued support and their instrumental role in bringing these important benefits to WTA players.”
Victoria Azarenka, WTA Players’ Council Representative: “I’m honored to introduce this program, driven by players, and made possible with the support of PIF and the WTA. This marks the beginning of a meaningful shift in how we support women in tennis, making it easier for athletes to pursue both their careers and their aspirations of starting a family. Ensuring that programs like this exist has been a personal mission of mine, and I’m excited to see the lasting impact it will have for generations to come.”
The PIF WTA Maternity Fund Program is a first-of-its-kind initiative, representing the first and only maternity program in women’s sport to be fully funded and supported by an external partner. Through their partnership, the WTA and PIF are playing a transformative role in the future of tennis, creating opportunities at scale for women athletes while ensuring they are not forced to choose between peak performance and future family planning. By prioritizing the holistic well-being of women athletes, the WTA and PIF are setting a new standard for brand partnerships, one that fosters long-term sustainability and a more equitable playing field for women in elite sport.
The eligibility criteria for participation in the PIF WTA Maternity Fund Program includes competing in a certain number of WTA tournaments in a window of time, and receiving a special ranking, one of the existing benefits available through the WTA’s Family Focus Program that makes it easier to return to competition after starting a family.
The PIF WTA Maternity Fund Program is part of WTA’s comprehensive Family Focus Program developed by the WTA to empower players to combine family life with professional sport. This includes special rankings that protect a player’s ranking position during pregnancy and postpartum, allowing them to return at the same level for up to three years after giving birth, or up to two years following another means of parenthood, such as guardianship. Since special rankings after returning from pregnancy were introduced in 2019, 50 players have benefited.
Additionally, the WTA offers extensive support to players who are pregnant or new parents through the Hologic WTA Performance Health Team and Women’s Health Taskforce, including physical assessments, mental health support and nutritional advice, as well as guidance on a staged return to play.
About PIF
PIF is the investment engine driving economic transformation for Saudi Arabia and the world. With an ambitious program to deliver Vision 2030, PIF invests in projects, companies and partners to diversify the Saudi economy, stimulate growth in every major sector, and create new opportunities for investment and employment. And as a global investor and catalyst of change, PIF actively partners with the most pioneering organizations across the world to accelerate their growth, and transfer the technology and knowledge needed to build industry ecosystems of the future. Since 2017, PIF has established 103 companies and is driving the transition to a more sustainable economy through strategic investments and partnerships across the Saudi public and private sector. PIF is laying the foundations for local and international partners to invest in the economic and societal transformation of Saudi Arabia.
For more information, visit the website at www.pif.gov.sa
Emma Mikus: [email protected]
+966 55 950 4792
About WTA
The WTA is the original game-changer for women’s sport. Founded in 1973 by the visionary Billie Jean King, the WTA was created to build equal opportunities for women in tennis, and we’ve been breaking boundaries ever since. Today we’re the powerhouse of women’s professional sports, uniting athletes in fearless competition and bringing people together through the love of tennis. The Hologic WTA Tour shares the thrill of every serve, rally and match point with an audience of more one billion around the world. Players compete for PIF WTA ranking points in tournament arenas on six continents before the season hits its peak at the WTA Finals, where the best singles and doubles superstars battle to be crowned as year-end champions. Our ambitions go well beyond the court. We are champions for our 1,600 incredible athletes and drivers of change through advocacy and action for women’s health and empowerment across the globe.
Rally the world: wtatennis.com
For media inquires:
WTA Communications: [email protected]
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Healthcare Holding Schweiz AG, a leading service provider and distributor of medical devices in Switzerland, is expanding its portfolio with the acquisition of Effectum CH-Rep AG. Healthcare Holding Schweiz is managed by Winterberg Advisory GmbH.
BAAR, Switzerland, March 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Healthcare Holding Schweiz AG has successfully completed the acquisition of Effectum CH-Rep AG. This transaction marks a carve-out of all services provided as Swiss Authorized Representative (CH-REP) from Effectum Medical AG. Under the Medical Devices Ordinance (MedDO SR 812.213) effective since May 26, 2021, manufacturers of medical devices without a registered office in Switzerland must appoint a CH-REP to distribute their products within the country. Through this acquisition, Healthcare Holding Schweiz AG strengthens its position as a comprehensive partner for medical technology manufacturers worldwide. With its group of companies, it can now provide integrated services that encompass not only import and distribution but also full compliance with regulatory requirements.
Fabio Fagagnini, CEO of Healthcare Holding Schweiz, expressed his enthusiasm for the acquisition: “With Effectum CH-Rep, we are expanding our service portfolio to include the role of Swiss Authorized Representative, thereby strengthening our growing group. This allows our sales representatives and managing directors to focus even more on innovative products and exceptional customer service, with the assurance that all regulatory requirements are being professionally met.”
Kim Züger, Head of Quality Management & Regulatory Affairs and the newly appointed Director of Effectum CH-Rep, emphasized: “Regulatory compliance is our top priority. Through Effectum CH-Rep, we offer this service not only to suppliers of Healthcare Holding Schweiz but also to numerous other manufacturers—a clear testament to our professionalism and high-quality standards.”
Michael Eggimann, Board Member of Effectum Medical AG and responsible for the sale of Effectum CH-Rep AG, added: “We have valued working with Fabio Fagagnini and his team for many years and are confident that Effectum CH-Rep is in excellent hands. This transition allows us to fully concentrate on the further development and distribution of our Legal Manufacturing offering as well as our innovative plug-and-play quality management system, while continuing to collaborate closely with Effectum CH-Rep for the benefit of our customers.”
About Effectum CH-Rep AG
Effectum CH-Rep AG, based in Olten, facilitates access for foreign manufacturers of medical devices to the Swiss market by acting as the Swiss Authorized Representative (CH-REP). As a CH-REP, Effectum CH-Rep AG takes on responsibilities such as ensuring compliance with Swiss registration requirements, collaborating with Swissmedic on preventive and corrective actions, providing a Person Responsible for Regulatory Compliance (PRRC), guaranteeing access to technical documentation, and reporting incidents and complaints.
About Healthcare Holding Schweiz AG
Healthcare Holding Schweiz AG is a Buy, Build & Technologize platform and a leading provider of medical technology products and services in Switzerland. The group is based in Baar and pursues an ambitious growth strategy through acquisitions, often in the context of succession arrangements, partnerships, and organic growth. Healthcare Holding Schweiz and its group companies are committed to the highest standards of innovation and customer satisfaction. The group consistently leverages technology to make business processes safer and more efficient. As a market leader, the company sets new standards for the industry and offers employees attractive development opportunities. All of the management team holds shares in Healthcare Holding Schweiz, thus forming a dynamic community of entrepreneurs.
About Winterberg Advisory GmbH and Winterberg Group AG
Winterberg Group AG, based in Zug, operates as an independent family office for its founders. Winterberg mainly invests in SMEs in the German-speaking region, and selectively considers investments in startups and real estate. Winterberg Advisory GmbH is a general partner and fund manager regulated by the German BaFin. Winterberg Advisory has launched numerous private equity funds and is invested in Healthcare Holding Schweiz AG through its funds Winterberg Investment VIII and Winterberg Investment IX. The two Partners and Executive Directors, Fabian Kröher and Florian Brickenstein, manage Healthcare Holding Schweiz AG via its board of directors.
For press inquiries, please contact [email protected]
For more information about Dental Axess AG, visit www.effectum-chrep.com
For more information about Healthcare Holding Schweiz AG, visit www.healthcare-holding.ch
For more information about the portfolio companies of Healthcare Holding, visit www.senectovia.ch, www.winthermedical.ch, www.mikrona.ch, www.orthowalker.ch, www.mcm-medsys.ch, www.naropa-reha.ch, www.mvb-medizintechnik.ch, www.dentalaxess.com
This press release is issued and distributed by Winterberg Advisory GmbH on behalf of Healthcare Holding Schweiz AG.
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PARIS and LONDON, March 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — iM Global Partner (iMGP) has announced it will enter the European Active UCITS ETF market with the launch of a European Managed Futures UCITS ETF, the only one available on the market, the iMGP DBi Managed Futures Fund R USD ETF.
This Active UCITS ETF has been listed on the Euronext stock exchange in Paris and will soon be available on the London Stock Exchange listed in sterling.
The iMGP DBi Managed Futures Fund R USD ETF will mirror the world’s largest Managed Futures ETF, US-listed iMGP DBi Managed Futures Strategy ETF. Both are managed by iMGP’s partner, DBi, experts in hedge fund replication. The US-listed ETF trades under the Bloomberg ticker DBMF:US, while the European UCITS ETF share class is listed under DBMF:FP.
This alternative strategy aims to replicate the pre-fee performance of a representative basket of leading managed futures hedge funds and has attracted interest from a wide variety of investors.
The UCITS ETF expands our existing offering of the iMGP DBi Managed Futures Fund and gives clients the opportunity to access the managed futures space through their wrapper of choice.
The European Active UCITS ETF market has grown steadily in recent years, with these products considered the next generation of portfolio building blocks. iM Global Partner has an active pipeline and plans to bring additional active UCITS ETFs to market in the coming months. iM Global Partner has already built up significant experience in the actively managed ETF market via its US operations and has a number of other ETFs covering multiple Partners and asset classes.
iMGP Founder and CEO, Philippe Couvrecelle, said: “After several years of offering actively managed ETFs in the USA, we are delighted to bring this offering to European investors. Our ability to respond to market opportunities demonstrates our commitment to providing innovative, cutting-edge products for all our clients, wherever they are based.”
Andrew Beer, Co-Founder DBi, added: “Managed Futures ETFs are becoming a big thing in the US so we are proud to partner with iMGP to launch DBMF:FP in Europe. This launch highlights the success of our model. Managed futures are one of the few alternative strategies where there are indisputable diversification benefits.”
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CONTACT: [email protected]
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BEIJING, March 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — This is a report from China.org.cn:
The 2025 Global Digital Economy Conference (GDEC)’s International Cooperation Forum series was held in Barcelona, Spain, on March 4.
Themed “Integration, Innovation, Win-Win: Co-creating a New Blueprint for the China-Europe Digital Economy,” the Digital Economy Cooperation Forum was hosted by the GDEC Organizing Committee, and organized by the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Economy and Information Technology (BMBEIT).
The event attracted more than 150 government representatives, corporate executives, industry association leaders from China, Spain and other European countries, and more than 60 overseas companies and institutions participated in it.
Jiang Guangzhi, the BMBEIT chief, delivered an opening speech in the form of digital human. In his address, Jiang said that the capital city of China, as a pioneer in the global digital economy, actively implements the national digital economy development strategy, and Barcelona, as the core hub of the European digital economy, has obvious advantages in science and technology industry clusters. The two cities have broad prospects for cooperation in the field of digital economy.
On the sidelines of the forum, BMBEIT also held a business and investment promotion activity called “Night of Beijing” in the Spanish city.
Relevant persons in charge of the BMBEIT promoted Beijing’s leading digital technology solutions in key digital economy industries such as autonomous driving, smart logistics, smart home, digital healthcare, and value-added telecommunications, combining core technologies, application scenarios, international promotion, and effectiveness cases.
Additionally, Lu Yiji, Chairman of the China-Europe Digital Association, Ignasi Castelló, Chief Purchasing Officer of FICOSA International Spain, Li Kang, Senior Vice President of China Telecom International, and Zhang Genxue, General Manager of Beijing Digital Economy Enterprises Overseas Innovation Service Base, each presented the current state and trends of digital economy development from different perspectives, providing valuable experiences and insights for enterprises and institutions.
The GDEC has been successfully held for four sessions since 2021. It is committed to promoting more comprehensive international cooperation in the digital economy industry and promoting the friendly and sustainable development of the global digital ecology. The 2025 GDEC will be held in Beijing in July.
Digital economy focus of China-EU cooperation: forum
http://www.china.org.cn/business/2025-03/06/content_117750616.htm
View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/digital-economy-focus-of-china-eu-cooperation-forum-302402825.html
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