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PowerBand Executes Unit Purchase Agreement to Acquire MUSA Auto Finance – A Leading FinTech Auto Lease Finance Company in the United States

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PowerBand Solutions Inc. (TSXV: PBX) (OTCQB: PWWBF) (Frankfurt: 1ZVA) (“PowerBand”, “PBX” or the “Company”), a leading online automotive auction, remarketing and vehicle acquisition and sales platform in North America, is pleased to announce, that in relation to its news release dated January 23, 2019, it has signed a Unit Purchase Agreement to acquire 60 percent of MUSA Holdings, LLC, and its subsidiaries, including MUSA Auto Finance, LLC (“MUSA”). The acquisition will transform PBX into an industry-leading FinTech company in the areas of vehicle acquisition, leasing, lending and auction services. The acquisition is subject to the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange.

MUSA Auto Finance
Founded in 2016, MUSA, based in Dallas, Texas, has quickly become a FinTech leader in the auto leasing market in the United States. Its innovative technology platform modernizes the new and pre-owned vehicle leasing experience. As a result of its proprietary technology, MUSA was awarded a contract by Tesla Motors to become a national leasing partner in 2018. During the testing phase with Tesla, which was restricted to California, MUSA developed technology that takes an application, calculates a lease, auto-decisions the application, provides an approval back to dealer partners, and prefills a lease contract accurately in less than eight seconds.

Tesla was so impressed with the ease of the platform that they sent USD$50 million in Tesla leasing contracts to MUSA over a weekend and a total of USD$90 million during the test phase. In order to accommodate the Tesla lease program, MUSA filled a USD$157.5 million financing facility to capacity in 2018, with an average FICO score of 739. MUSA’s product demand with Tesla, and dealer partners in 33 states, prompted Robert McDonald, a former Goldman Sachs VP, to describe MUSA as “one of the fastest-growing auto finance companies ever.” MUSA subsequently sold the financing facility, in May 2019, in a private placement to Crestline Investors Inc.

PBX’s acquisition of MUSA brings together two leading-edge companies with the vision to become a one-stop SaaS platform for the entire vehicle purchase lifecycle. Franchised dealers, independent dealers, and consumers will be able to:

  • Use MUSA’s real-time lease origination platform to lease new and used vehicles
  • Acquire pre-owned vehicles for MUSA consumers through PBX’s online auction platform
  • Retain customers through new lease options using the PBX-RouteOne partnership
  • Resell off-lease vehicles to D2D Automotive Auctions (“D2D”) through the PBX auction platform. D2D is a joint venture partnership owned equally by PowerBand and Bryan Hunt in the United States.

In addition to expanding its lease origination portfolio, PBX and MUSA have plans to pursue:

  • Direct-to-consumer lending platform
  • Online consumer-to-consumer marketplace – connecting individual sellers with buyers who will use MUSA for lease financing
  • Aggressive expansion toward nationwide operations by adding at least 15 states, bringing the company’s total number of states to 48.

Kelly Jennings, CEO of PowerBand, commented, “This is a transformative acquisition for PowerBand. By combining MUSA’s industry-leading leasing platform with PowerBand’s comprehensive used vehicle online remarketing auction platform, we have differentiated PowerBand in the automotive industry and will be able to offer dealers; commercial, rental and leasing companies; and consumers a one-stop online platform to buy, sell, trade and finance vehicles. We are excited to work with MUSA’s management team to accelerate MUSA’s ability to originate new leases in 2019, and beyond. We will work closely with MUSA and our partners to raise new capital and warehouse facilities. We have started conversations with automotive partners, like RouteOne, to accelerate MUSA and PowerBand’s growth in the United States.”

Jeff Morgan, CEO of MUSA, stated, “The executive team at MUSA is excited to join with PowerBand, D2D Automotive Auctions, and its other strategic partners. While we specialize in new and used auto lease finance, we are continuing to enhance our technology to achieve simplicity in an otherwise complicated process. We quickly achieved Elon Musk’svision of being able to complete a transaction on the dashboard of a Tesla at delivery, and we are really excited about new technology currently under development that we hope to announce later this year.”

Both PowerBand and MUSA are excited to announce that the MUSA leadership team will remain in place and continue to operate under the guidance of PowerBand. PBX and MUSA will work together to restructure and grow the business in 2019. Kelly Jennings and Darrin Swenson will join the Board of Directors of MUSA Holdings, LLC. The acquisition of MUSA Holdings, LLC is an arm’s length transaction. There are no finder’s fees payable as a result of the transaction.

 

SOURCE MUSA Auto Finance

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Fintech Pulse: Your Daily Industry Brief (Plaid, Warner Bros., TransUnion, Monevo, FinVolution, CreditTech, Glenbrook Partners)

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Op-Ed: The Dawn of a Fintech Spring

As the financial technology sector continues to navigate the complex post-pandemic landscape, recent developments suggest a revitalized period of growth and innovation. Key players are making bold moves, partnerships are forming, and underserved markets are gaining attention. In this briefing, we explore the latest headlines and what they reveal about the industry’s trajectory.


Plaid Reports Growth in Revenue and Usage Rates

Plaid, the connective tissue of the fintech ecosystem, has shown remarkable resilience and growth. The company’s CEO recently highlighted a surge in both revenue and usage rates, describing the current period as a “fintech spring.” This growth comes as consumer demand for seamless financial solutions remains high, despite macroeconomic challenges.

Plaid’s ability to maintain relevance is tied to its strategic partnerships and continuous innovation. By enabling applications like Venmo and Robinhood to thrive, Plaid underscores the importance of integration in fostering user trust and utility.

Source: Bloomberg


Warner Bros. Discovery Strengthens Board with Fintech Leadership

Warner Bros. Discovery is diversifying its board by bringing in SoFi CEO Anthony Noto and outgoing IAC Chief Executive Joseph Levin. This move signals the increasing influence of fintech expertise beyond traditional financial sectors. With Noto’s leadership in digital banking and Levin’s extensive background in technology-driven enterprises, Warner Bros. Discovery is positioning itself for a future that seamlessly blends media and financial technology.

This cross-industry synergy could lead to innovative offerings, bridging gaps between entertainment platforms and fintech applications, such as micro-investing and personalized financial recommendations for content consumers.

Source: Reuters


TransUnion to Acquire Monevo

Credit reporting agency TransUnion has announced its plans to acquire Monevo, a leading credit prequalification and distribution platform. This acquisition aims to enhance TransUnion’s capabilities in the credit technology space, allowing it to offer more personalized and accessible financial solutions to consumers.

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By integrating Monevo’s platform, TransUnion is expected to provide lenders with advanced tools to better assess creditworthiness while empowering consumers with prequalified loan offers. This development is particularly timely as consumers increasingly seek transparency and efficiency in credit processes.

Source: TransUnion Press Release


FinVolution Highlights CreditTech Opportunities in Southeast Asia

Ming Gu, Senior Vice President of FinVolution, emphasized the transformative potential of CreditTech in Southeast Asia during his address at the Asian Financial Forum. With a significant portion of the region’s population still underserved by traditional financial institutions, CreditTech presents a unique opportunity to bridge the gap.

Gu pointed out that leveraging AI and data analytics can help tailor credit solutions for diverse needs, ultimately fostering financial inclusion and economic growth in these emerging markets. FinVolution’s insights reaffirm the critical role of fintech in empowering underserved communities.

Source: PR Newswire


Glenbrook Partners Launches On-Demand Learning Program

Payments consultancy Glenbrook Partners has introduced an on-demand learning platform designed to educate professionals in the payments industry. This initiative is expected to address the growing need for skilled talent as digital payment ecosystems expand globally.

The program offers modular content covering foundational and advanced topics, catering to professionals at various stages of their careers. By equipping individuals with in-depth knowledge, Glenbrook is contributing to the industry’s sustainability and growth.

Source: PR Newswire


Analysis and Takeaways

These stories collectively highlight a few key trends shaping the fintech landscape:

  1. Resilient Growth: Plaid’s trajectory reaffirms that consumer-centric innovations drive sector resilience even during economic uncertainties.
  2. Cross-Industry Integration: Warner Bros. Discovery’s board appointments underline fintech’s permeation into traditionally non-financial domains.
  3. Strategic Acquisitions: TransUnion’s acquisition of Monevo showcases how established players are leveraging fintech to enhance service offerings.
  4. Global Inclusivity: Efforts by FinVolution and others highlight the role of fintech in addressing global financial disparities.
  5. Education and Skill Development: Initiatives like Glenbrook’s program reflect a proactive approach to fostering a knowledgeable workforce.

 

The post Fintech Pulse: Your Daily Industry Brief (Plaid, Warner Bros., TransUnion, Monevo, FinVolution, CreditTech, Glenbrook Partners) appeared first on News, Events, Advertising Options.

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io.finnet and Cede Labs Partner to Transform Multi-Exchange Portfolio Management for Institutions

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 io.finnet, a leader in digital asset infrastructure, has partnered with  Cede Labs, to introduce a solution for centralized exchange (CEX) connectivity. This collaboration provides institutional clients with a streamlined, secure platform for comprehensive multi-exchange portfolio management.  Through this integration, io.finnet clients can now access leading exchanges such as Binance, Coinbase, Bybit, OKX, Kraken and more with features tailored for institutional-grade governance and operational efficiency.

Institutional digital asset management faces increasing complexity as businesses demand more secure and efficient tools to oversee diverse portfolios.  With 70% of institutional investors expecting a surge in digital asset-focused funds, the need for secure and efficient multi-exchange solutions has never been greater.

“Businesses require solutions that simplify the complexity of managing assets across exchanges while maintaining the highest standards of security.” said Jacob Plaster, CTO of io.finnet. “Through our partnership with Cede Labs, clients can seamlessly connect their exchange accounts and manage their entire portfolio within a unified, secure environment.”

Unlike traditional offerings, io.finnet’s integration with Cede Labs introduces secure account-linking capabilities, allowing clients to effortlessly connect and unlink their exchange accounts while adhering to strict governance protocols. Unified tracking capabilities further enhance this solution, enabling users to monitor their portfolios across all connected exchanges in real-time. This includes the ability to oversee spot and trading wallets, derivatives positions, and sub-accounts under a single pane of glass, a feature few competitors offer at this scale.

Pierre Ni, CEO of Cede Labs, highlighted the impact on institutional workflows: “We are proud to collaborate with io.finnet to redefine digital asset custody and management. By unlocking new use cases for corporates, market makers, liquid funds, foundations, and fintechs through CEX connectivity, we believe io.finnet can grow to become one of the top self-custody players.”

This partnership is particularly timely as market demand for interoperable solutions continues to rise. The integration will eliminate the need to navigate multiple platforms and provide institutions with real-time visibility across their digital asset holdings, enabling seamless exchange connectivity and enhanced risk management.

io.finnet is committed to enhancing its exchange connectivity capabilities with deposits, withdrawals, trades, and sub-account transfers to further streamline asset management workflows. Stay tuned for exciting updates as we expand the possibilities of our Exchange Connectivity feature.

The post io.finnet and Cede Labs Partner to Transform Multi-Exchange Portfolio Management for Institutions appeared first on News, Events, Advertising Options.

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Blocks & Headlines: Today in Blockchain (

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Welcome to Blocks & Headlines, your comprehensive daily briefing on the transformative world of blockchain. Today, we explore groundbreaking partnerships, economic innovations, and blockchain-powered initiatives redefining the future.

Sony Ventures Into Blockchain With New Identity Solutions

Sony has unveiled its latest blockchain-based digital identity solution designed to enhance privacy and security in the online space. This innovative system uses decentralized technology to manage digital credentials, making identity verification seamless and secure.

Sony’s venture reflects a broader trend among tech giants exploring blockchain’s potential to reshape data privacy and authentication systems.

Source: Sony Press Release


TRON’s Daily Revenue Skyrockets 119% in 2024

TRON has reported a staggering 119% increase in daily revenue, a testament to its innovative blockchain economic models. By leveraging smart contracts and a scalable infrastructure, TRON continues to attract developers and businesses seeking cost-efficient blockchain solutions.

This growth positions TRON as a leading player in the competitive blockchain ecosystem, setting benchmarks for others to follow.

Source: Bitcoin.com


MIGMIG Partners With XT.com to Bring Blockchain Rewards

MIGMIG, a blockchain gaming and rewards platform, has partnered with XT.com to expand its reach and user engagement. This collaboration aims to deliver unique blockchain-powered rewards while enhancing the gaming experience for users worldwide.

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The partnership highlights the increasing intersection of blockchain technology and entertainment, opening new avenues for user interaction.

Source: Bitcoinist


Nano Labs Supports the Inaugural Presidential Crypto Ball

Nano Labs has announced a partnership with the Inaugural Presidential Crypto Ball, emphasizing its commitment to fostering blockchain awareness. This high-profile event aims to bridge the gap between blockchain innovators and policymakers, paving the way for broader adoption.

The initiative underscores the importance of collaboration between the blockchain community and governmental bodies to shape the future of digital assets.

Source: PR Newswire


Bybit Card Partners With EnTravel for Luxury Travel Perks

Bybit has teamed up with EnTravel to offer its cardholders exclusive discounts on luxury travel experiences. This partnership integrates blockchain-powered payment solutions with high-end travel services, providing users with unparalleled convenience and value.

The move exemplifies how blockchain technology can enhance traditional industries, offering innovative solutions tailored to modern consumer needs.

Source: PR Newswire


Key Insights and Industry Trends

  1. Decentralized Identity: Sony’s blockchain-based solution addresses growing concerns over online security and privacy.
  2. Economic Innovations: TRON’s revenue surge highlights the profitability of scalable blockchain networks.
  3. Gaming and Blockchain: Partnerships like MIGMIG and XT.com showcase the potential of blockchain in entertainment.
  4. Policy and Collaboration: Nano Labs’ involvement in the Crypto Ball underscores the importance of industry-government dialogue.
  5. Luxury Integration: Bybit and EnTravel demonstrate blockchain’s ability to enhance traditional services.

 

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