LONDON, April 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — To accelerate its growth in the United States and its presence in the fast-expanding online gaming market, Thunes, a global cross-border payments company, is proud to announce that it signed a definitive agreement to acquire Tilia LLC, an all-in-one payments platform. Tilia is licensed in 48 U.S. states and territories and offers payment solutions (acceptance and pay-outs) for online games, virtual worlds, creator economies, and in-app purchases.

Upon closing of the transaction, which is subject to regulatory approvals, Thunes’ bespoke global network to accept and pay in real-time through four billion bank accounts, three billion digital wallets and 550 Alternative Payment Methods (APMs) will become available to merchants across the United States, including current Tilia customers. Using Tilia’s technology, Thunes will be able to offer Visa, MasterCard, American Express, JCB and UnionPay acceptance to Thunes’ customers.

As part of the transaction, Thunes and Linden Research, Inc. (“Linden Lab”), the current majority owner of Tilia, have agreed to an exclusive five-year partnership in which, post closing, Thunes will provide payment processing and pay-outs to Linden Lab, leveraging Thunes’ global network – allowing gamers to pay, and to receive money real-time, in a more cost-efficient way and with increased transparency.

Floris de Kort, CEO of Thunes, says, “The acquisition of Tilia demonstrates our ambition in the United States. This investment will enable us to leverage Tilia’s capabilities to provide merchants with direct money movement solutions in and out of the United States. Furthermore, Tilia’s deep expertise in online gaming, virtual worlds and token-based payments will greatly accelerate our growth into that fast-growing, exciting industry.”

Brad Oberwager, CEO of Linden Lab, says, “Thunes is an exceptional company that directly connects nearly every payment method and market worldwide. The combination of Tilia and Thunes will give Linden Lab’s customers more payment choices, and the ability to receive pay-outs in real time, anywhere, into the wallet or bank account of their choice. It will be business as usual for our people and our customers as we bring Tilia and Thunes together.”

Subject to regulatory approval, after the acquisition closes, Tilia will be rebranded as Thunes and will remain based in San Francisco.

Contact:
Flo Holt, PR Account Manager, Headland, [email protected],
+44 (0)7311 369 938
Rebecca Hackworth, Director, Corporate Communications, Thunes, [email protected], +44 (0)7447 459 656

About Thunes:

Thunes is a global payment innovator enabling seamless, instant and transparent money movement for the 21st century. Through our expansive network, we empower our customers to Accept and Pay in real-time, closing the gap between payment systems worldwide.

Thunes currently facilitates payments in 84 currencies across 133 countries, using over 550 payment methods, including 129 mobile wallets like PayPal, M Pesa and Orange Money, gig economy giants like Uber and Deliveroo and super-apps like Grab and WeChat. Headquartered in Singapore, Thunes has offices in 14 locations, including Beijing, Nairobi, Riyadh, Dubai, San Francisco, Sao Paulo, London, Paris, Barcelona and Manila.

With a mission to connect the world’s population so that commerce can operate in a borderless, frictionless way, Thunes’ network is powering the next chapter of the digital economy. For more information, visit: https://www.thunes.com/

About Tilia:

Tilia LLC is the all-in-one payments platform for digital economies. Through its payments infrastructure technology and as a licensed money transmitter in the U.S., Tilia is unlocking the full potential of online economies by providing secure, regulated transactions at massive scale. For more information, visit www.tilia.io.

About Linden Lab:

Linden Lab develops platforms that empower people to create, share, and benefit from virtual experiences. Founded in 1999, the company first launched Second Life, the ground-breaking virtual world enjoyed by millions around the globe, in 2003, which has since gone on to boast nearly two billion user creations and a vibrant $500 million (USD) economy. For more about Linden Lab, its products, and career opportunities, visit its website.

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OSLO, Norway, April 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Aker ASA will publish its financial results for the first quarter of 2024 on Wednesday, May 8, 2024, at 07:00 CEST. An online webcast presentation of the results will be available the same day at 09:00 CEST.

Webcast details:

Date: Wednesday, May 8, 2024
Time: 09:00am CEST
Format: Webcast
Language: English
Link: https://akercreativehub.eventcdn.net/events/aker-asa-q1-2024

There will be a Q&A session following the presentation. Written questions can be submitted through the webcast solution during the presentation. It is also possible to submit questions to [email protected] in advance.

The presentation and material will be made available at www.akerasa.com and www.newsweb.no

Media contact
Atle Kigen, Head of Media Relations and Public Affairs Aker ASA
Tel: +47 90 78 48 78
E-mail: [email protected]

Investor contact
Fredrik Berge, Head of Investor Relations Aker ASA
Tel: +47 45 03 20 90
E-mail: [email protected]

This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to Section 5-12 the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/aker-asa/r/aker-asa–presentation-of-first-quarter-results-2024,c3965262

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LUXEMBOURG, April 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — NowCM is delighted to announce the appointment of Markus Sauerland as its new Chief Operating Officer and Co-Chief Executive Officer, effective 1 April 2024. Stationed in Frankfurt am Main, Markus brings over thirty years of global expertise in banking and capital markets to his new role at NowCM. Renowned for his leadership acumen, Markus has a distinguished track record of spearheading organizational growth and enhancing operational efficiency in complex financial environments.

Professional Background of Markus Sauerland:

In 2019, Markus Sauerland was appointed Chief Operating Officer at Nomura Financial Products Europe GmbH, tasked with launching and leading the newly established European investment firm. His leadership and strategic vision led to his promotion in 2022 as CEO and Chairman of the Management Board.

Before joining Nomura, Markus had a prolific career at Deutsche Bank from 1993 to 2012, where he held several key positions across major financial hubs in Frankfurt, London, and New York. His roles included Chief Operating Officer for Group Finance, Global CFO for Global Markets (Trading & Sales), CFO for Fixed Income Americas, and CFO for Global Foreign Exchange.

Following a sabbatical in 2014, Markus joined PwC Financial Services in Germany as a Senior Advisor, focusing on Business Development to enhance product development capabilities and bolster brand strength and profitability. He was later elevated to Leader of Banking and Capital Markets in Germany, where he oversaw the delivery of Audit, Tax, and Consulting solutions to clients.

Markus is an alumnus of the University of California, Irvine, and George-August University Göttingen, where he studied Economics and Business Administration.

Strategic Role and Vision at NowCM:

Markus Sauerland’s profound expertise in international banking and financial operations is ideally suited to NowCM’s strategic goals of advancing its sophisticated operational infrastructure. In his capacity as COO and Co-CEO, Markus will oversee all operational and business initiatives, steering growth and deepening client engagements. His leadership is set to refine NowCM’s operational framework, utilizing innovative solutions that align with the company’s strategic vision and drive it toward continued success in the dynamic landscape of capital markets. With both Robert and Markus leading the way, NowCM is exceptionally positioned to achieve operational excellence and significantly enhance its presence in the market.

Markus Sauerland’s Vision:

Reflecting on his new role, Markus stated: “I am genuinely excited to join NowCM, the leading platform in the primary capital markets. With my prior experience, I’m ready to help propel this innovative company to new heights. At NowCM, we’re not just active in the market; we’re shaping its future, introducing bold new strategies that will redefine how capital markets operate. Our goal is to challenge the traditional norms and set new standards for success. Alongside NowCM’s talented team, I’m confident we’re well-equipped to not just navigate the future but actively create it. This role represents a tremendous opportunity to impact our industry significantly. Let’s open the floor for discussion: How prepared are we to challenge established financial practices and welcome the transformative approaches NowCM is championing? Together, we are paving the way for a more flexible and inclusive financial landscape.” 

Comments from NowCM CEO and Founder, Robert Koller:

NowCM CEO and Founder, Robert Koller, expressed his enthusiasm about the new appointment, stating: “We are thrilled to have Markus join our team, bringing with him a wealth of operational expertise that complements our dynamic team perfectly. From day one, NowCM has operated under strict regulations, setting us apart from typical start-ups. With Markus’s arrival, we are poised to enter an exciting new phase of growth, scaling our operations to align with those of our major clients while maintaining the agility and drive of an innovative, rapidly evolving company. We are committed to adhering to the highest standards across all areas—cybersecurity, regulatory compliance, product innovation, and team diversity. We feel fortunate to have some of the brightest minds in the industry driving our success.”

About NowCM

NowCM is the leading market infrastructure and issuance provider within the primary debt capital markets. It offers a market-leading, cloud-native data platform for creating, negotiating, and managing debt, along with an end-to-end secure, digital workflow platform. These tools enable all participants in the primary bond markets to collaborate in real-time, fostering an open and cooperative environment.

NowCM facilitate access to primary markets for inaugural and infrequent issuers through its Treasury-as-a-Service (TaaS) facility. This entity is regulated by the CSSF in Luxembourg and operates as a “funding subsidiary” using standardised yet flexible documentation and fully automated digital workflows.

NowCM’s 360-degree suite of services is completed by a multi-lateral trading facility (MTF) that NowCM owns and operates. It stands as the world’s first and only regulated primary marketplace, subject to the supervision of the ACPR and AMF in France. 

Connect with NowCM
Website: www.nowcm.eu
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/nowcm
X (formerly Twitter): www.twitter.com/NowCM_EU 

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2082541/NowCM_Logo.jpg 

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