July 22, 2022

Dale Ventures Acquires 20 Percent Stake in Train Booking Site Rail Online

We are very excited to have secured the backing of Dale Ventures to help support our company’s goal of promoting the increased use of sustainable forms of transport – James Dunne (CEO and Founder, Rail Online)

Dale Ventures acquires 20 percent stake in train booking site Rail Online

SYDNEY, July 22, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Global venture capital firm Dale Ventures is excited to announce its latest investment in the Australian tech start-up company Metro 1 Travel and Technology Pty Ltd, the operator of a top-tier website www.rail.online that allows customers across the globe to book affordable, convenient rail travel with ease. Led by CEO Dale W. Wood, Dale Ventures recently invested AU$2,500,000 to acquire a 20 percent stake in the company.

At www.rail.online, customers in Europe, Australia, and throughout the world can search for terrific deals on train tickets, knowing they’ll find the best prices and knowledgeable customer service staff all in one place. Rail Online offers quick and simple refunds, giving travelers peace of mind when they book each and every time.

“The travel market has been waiting for a service like Rail Online since the advent of e-ticketing in the rail sector, and this desire is only bolstered by pent-up demand related to the pandemic,” Dale W. Wood said. “Digital ticketing is poised for major innovation, and James, Lachlan, and Kew are ahead of their time. I am thrilled to be able to support their venture as they move toward making cheap, climate-conscious rail travel a reality for millions.”

Rail.Online is more than just a booking site – it’s a travel companion and comparison platform that makes international adventures all the more achievable. From European rail passes to point-to-point tickets across the United Kingdom, planning a trip is a faster and more affordable experience when using Rail Online. With every search, customers can see all available options for a train ticket and compare prices, amenities, and experiences, as well as receive an easy-to-understand breakdown of when and how often their ticket can be used.

Founded by James Dunne, Lachlan McCallum, and Kew Muthalif, Rail Online has already caught the eye of industry leader SilverRail who signed a contract with the company in 2021. Cameron Jones, Chief Strategy Officer at SilverRail, said, “We’ve been impressed with the founding team that Rail Online has brought to the table. Our companies share a genuine passion for the sector, and we look forward to working with them as they grow.”

“We want to make it as easy and affordable as possible for people to compare, plan and book their next rail adventure,” James Dunne said. “SilverRail has helped us create a platform that offers a seamless booking experience with competitive prices and the ability to self-manage any changes or refunds. With the rapid advancement of digital ticketing in the rail sector, it’s time for a new player, and we’re it.”

The recent investment by Dale Ventures will allow Rail Online to expand further across Europe and into North America.

“We are very excited to have secured the backing of Dale Ventures to help support our company’s goal of promoting the increased use of sustainable forms of transport,” James Dunne said. “With a focus on brilliant technology and customer experience, our mission is to become the world’s most valued and frequently used travel app for rail and public transport.”

About Dale Ventures

Dale Ventures is a personal investment holding group founded by serial investor Dale W. Wood. The company partners with management teams to provide the significant strategic and analytic resources needed to build and grow remarkable companies. Dale Ventures has adopted a consultative approach that harnesses the power of innovative teams to generate groundbreaking ideas, tactics, and strategies that drive growth and build long-term value.

For more information about Dale Wood and his projects, please visit www.Dale.com and Facebook.com/DaleVentures.

Media Contact

Dale Ventures FZE
contact.ae@dale.com
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Dale Ventures acquires 20 percent stake in train booking site Rail Online

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Dale Ventures acquires 20 percent stake in train booking site Rail Online

July 22, 2022

Verisk Names Elizabeth Mann Chief Financial Officer

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Elizabeth Mann

JERSEY CITY, N.J., July 21, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Verisk (Nasdaq: VRSK) today announced that Elizabeth Mann has been named executive vice president and chief financial officer for Verisk, effective September 15, 2022.

As CFO, she will lead Verisk’s global finance organization which includes accounting and controllership, financial planning and analysis, investor relations, strategic sourcing and procurement, tax and treasury.

Lee Shavel, CEO of Verisk, said, “We’re excited to welcome Elizabeth to Verisk. Elizabeth’s global and multi-faceted finance experience coupled with her leadership make her the perfect candidate to lead Verisk’s dynamic finance team. Elizabeth will be a great partner in achieving our longer-term growth and return objectives and an invaluable resource for valued stakeholders who want to better understand Verisk’s financial and competitive strengths.”

An accomplished financial leader, Mann comes to Verisk from S&P Global, where she was chief financial officer for the Ratings and Mobility divisions, and prior to that senior vice president of capital management. She also held roles of increasing responsibility at Goldman Sachs, including managing director of the firmwide strategy group and the technology, media & telecom investment banking group. Before joining corporate America, Mann earned a doctorate in Mathematics from the University of Oxford, and she was Moore Instructor & National Science Foundation Postdoctoral Fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

“Verisk occupies a unique position as a trusted partner to the industries it serves. I’m looking forward to working with Lee and the leadership team to expand on Verisk’s position and accelerate the company’s strong financial performance and strategy for growth,” Mann said.

The role of Verisk CFO was left vacant when Shavel became CEO in May. David Grover, Verisk’s controller and chief accounting officer, has been serving as interim CFO.

“We’re incredibly thankful to David for his leadership and support during this transition period,” Shavel said.

About Verisk
Verisk (Nasdaq: VRSK) provides data-driven analytic insights and solutions for the insurance and energy industries. Through advanced data analytics, software, scientific research and deep industry knowledge, Verisk empowers customers to strengthen operating efficiency, improve underwriting and claims outcomes, combat fraud and make informed decisions about global issues, including climate change and extreme events as well as political and ESG topics. With offices in more than 30 countries, Verisk consistently earns certification by Great Place to Work and fosters an inclusive culture where all team members feel they belong. For more, visit Verisk.com and the Verisk Newsroom.

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Investor Relations  
Stacey Brodbar
Head of Investor Relations
Verisk 
201-469-4327 
IR@verisk.com

Media
Alberto Canal
Corporate Communications
201-469-2618
Alberto.Canal@verisk.com

July 22, 2022

i2 Group Extends Analytics Capabilities with Acquisition of Rosoka

OTTAWA, July 21, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — i2 Group (i2), a wholly owned subsidiary of N. Harris Computer Corporation (Harris), is extending its portfolio of solutions for intelligence analysis through the acquisition of Rosoka Software Inc (Rosoka).

This investment by Harris comes only six months since it acquired i2 and demonstrates their commitment to i2’s continued growth. The acquisition will strengthen i2’s capabilities in the delivery of its mission-critical software that supports homeland security, state and local law enforcement, and financial crime investigations.

The technology secured by the acquisition of Rosoka means that when it comes to data analysis, unstructured data is no longer a barrier. This capability, which is now available in the i2 portfolio, will allow data analysts and investigators to extract insights automatically from a variety of documents such as Microsoft^® Word, PDFs, and web pages. It will allow a multitude of new unstructured data sources to be immediately exploited by i2’s global user base.

Jamie Caffrey, Executive Vice President of i2 Group, said: “Bringing the Rosoka solution into i2 is a game changer. It further enhances our products’ capabilities and will improve an analyst’s time to value by deriving insight from the mass of unstructured data they confront every day. Documents can now be directly imported into the i2 product they already use and be immediately ready for analysis.”

“Harris’ support of i2 extends beyond this acquisition and is backed by the significant investment in both our expert teams and the solutions we provide. We have recently released software updates across the entire product suite and this acquisition builds upon our mission to provide the most capable and trusted global intelligence analysis platform.”

Gregory Roberts, CEO and Founder of Rosoka, said: “We already have a splendid working relationship with Jamie and the i2 team and to join the Harris family is an amazing opportunity for Rosoka’s solutions to be adopted more widely. I look forward to working with i2 to provide even greater capabilities to data analysts and investigators globally.”

With an estimated 80% of all enterprise data being unstructured, Rosoka will be a force multiplier for the i2 product line. It will allow i2 users to consistently and repeatably analyze documents in over 200 languages to extract key relationships, geospatial locations, and the underlying sentiment in those associations.

As a key historic partner of i2, the Rosoka brand will become part of i2’s business. The unstructured document data capability is available immediately in the new i2 TextChart product line.

For further information, contact:

Jamie Caffrey
Executive Vice President, i2 Group
E: jamie.caffrey@i2group.com

About i2 Group

i2 Group is a world-leader in intelligence analysis software. They empower intelligence analysts and investigators to discover, create, and disseminate actionable intelligence to identify the perpetrators of criminal activity. Founded in Cambridge, UK in 1990, it has more than 30 years’ experience in helping its users to solve complex problems. Their products have been proven in countless real-world operations and are relied upon by 4,500+ users in more than 140 countries.

About Rosoka

Rosoka provides the power to unlock large volumes of information from any multilingual source, determines the relevance and relationship of the data, and delivers value specific results on any platform, application, or device from 230+ languages.

About N. Harris Computer Corporation (Harris)

Harris acquires software businesses, manages them using industry best practices, and builds them for the future. Through acquisitions, Harris has grown extensively from its roots in the utilities, local government, education, private and healthcare sectors to operate over 180 businesses globally across more than twenty industries. Harris is an operating group of Constellation Software Inc. (TSX: CSU), one of North America’s most active acquirers of software businesses.

July 22, 2022

Vietnam eyes stronger relations with Germany locality

Vietnamese Ambassador to Germany Vu Quang Minh on July 21 paid a working visit to Leipzig at the invitation of Mayor Burkhard Jung, during which the two sides discussed ways to further strengthen cooperation between the German locality and Vietnam.

At the meeting with the Vietnamese diplomat, Mayor Burkhard Jung said the Leipzig authority attaches importance to the traditional friendship and cooperation with Ho Chi Minh City, and Vietnam in general.

The establishment of a partnership between Leipzig and Ho Chi Minh City a year ago, as well as effective cooperation projects jointly implemented by the two sides in many fields, is a clear example of this relation, he added.

The Leipzig authority always supports businesses of both sides to expand cooperation in the coming time, thus contributing to deepening and strengthening the bilateral relations between Germany and Vietnam, he said.

Jung underlined the important role played by the Vietnamese community in Leipzig, saying that they serve as a friendship bridge connecting the two countries. He affirmed that the municipal authority will continue to create all favourable conditions for the Vietnamese community to do business, live and contribute more to the city’s development.

According to Ambassador Minh, Leipzig has worked closely with HCM City, and Vietnam in general to effectively implement many cooperation projects in economy, culture, health, education – training, energy, water treatment, environmental protection, and conservation of rare animals. The two sides have also supported each other in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

The partnership between Leipzig and HCM City has contributed to deepening the friendship between Vietnam and Germany, he said, noting that Leipzig is the only German city having a representative office in Vietnam so far.

He expressed the hope that the partnership between Leipzig and Ho Chi Minh City, and the bilateral relations in general will continue to grow stronger in the coming time.

Meeting with representatives of the Vietnamese Association in Leipzig, Ambassador Minh highly valued the organization’s activities, saying that the association has shown a high sense of responsibility to the host country’s society, as seen in its support for the COVID-19 fight, and for overseas Vietnamese who fled from Ukraine to Germany in recent times.

He hoped that the Vietnamese community in Leipzig will continue to make more contributions to the German city, as well as increase investment in the homeland and help connect German businesses with Vietnamese firms in the coming time./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

July 22, 2022

Young OVs hoped to be “Ambassadors” promoting Vietnam’s ties with other countries

Deputy head of the State Commission for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs (SCOV) Mai Phan Dung has expressed his hope that each young Vietnamese living abroad will act as an “Ambassador” helping boost Vietnam’s cooperation with foreign individuals and organisations and popularise Vietnam’s good values in their host country.

Dung shared his wish during a recent interview granted to the media on the Vietnam Summer Camp 2022, which is held after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The summer camp, an annual event organised by the SCOV under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, for outstanding overseas Vietnamese (OV) youths around the world, is taking place from July 19 to August 3 in nine provinces and cities in the northern, central and southern regions. Dung stated that the organisation of the programme shows the Party and State’s attention to expatriates, and meets the aspirations of the young generation who want to learn about the homeland’s historical, political, socio-cultural issues and natural landscapes, and exchange with domestic young people and students.

This is also an opportunity to educate and cultivate the love of the homeland and the Vietnamese patriotic tradition in the young OVs, he added.

Since 2004, the Vietnam Summer Camp has attracted the participation of nearly 2,000 young Vietnamese people from over 30 countries and territories. This year’s event gathers 108 delegates aged between 16-24 returning from 25 nations. According to Dung, the SCOV has been implementing and sponsoring many activities to connect young OVs with domestic agencies and organisations such as the Hack4Growth innovation contest by the Global Association of Vietnamese Scientists and Experts (AVSE Global)./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

July 22, 2022

Vietnam – attractive investment destination for RoK investors

Vietnam is a destination chosen by investors from the Republic of Korea (RoK) in the spheres of technology, environment and high-tech industry, heard a conference in Ho Chi Minh City on July 22.

The conference was held within the framework of the Vietnam-RoK Cooperation Forum (VIKO30), by the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee and the Ministry of Planning and Investment.

In his remarks, Ambassador Nguyen Phu Binh, Chairman of the Association for Liaison with Overseas Vietnamese (OV), said after 30 years of bilateral diplomatic ties, Vietnam and the RoK have become important partners, especially in economy.

The RoK is one of the biggest investors in Vietnam over the past years, significantly contributing to the Southeast Asian nation’s economic development, he said, adding that Korean investment has been expanded to other cities and provinces, apart from Hanoi, HCM City and adjacent localities.

Kwon Sung-taek, Vice President of the Korea and Vietnam Economic and Cultural Association (KOVECA), viewed economic cooperation, covering investment and trade, as the biggest result in the bilateral relationship over the past three decades.

He said the trade revenue between the RoK and Vietnam is equivalent to that between the RoK and other nine ASEAN member nations, noting that Korean firms contributed around 25 percent to Vietnam’s total export value.

According to Kwon, Korean investments have been shifted from labour-intensive industries to others like manufacturing, high-tech and environment. Korean investors have also regarded Vietnam as a destination for technological transfer and personnel training cooperation.

He, however, pointed out policy-related obstacles to the investment, and suggested more harmony and transparency during the implementation of investment policies in Vietnam to attract more Korean investors.

It was reported at the conference that the RoK is running 209 projects worth 900 million USD in the southern province of Long An, and 426 others valued at 7 billion USD in the southern province of Dong Nai.

Pham Huu Thang, Vice Chairman and General Secretary of the Association for Liaison with Overseas Vietnamese, affirmed that Vietnam stands ready to welcome Korean investors.

Thang, who is also former deputy head of the Foreign Investment Agency under the Ministry of Planning and Investment, suggested the two sides regularly exchange information to better cooperate in specific areas./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

July 22, 2022

Acceleration of projects ordered for Con Dao airport to host 2 million guests per year

Deputy Minister of Transport Le Anh Tuan has freshly signed a document requesting competent agencies start projects at the Con Dao airport in the southern province of Ba Ria – Vung Tau in an effort to enable the airport to host 2 million passengers per year.

Accordingly, the ministry has asked the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) to coordinate with such parties as the Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV) and the Vietnam Air Traffic Management Corporation (VATM) regarding the implementation of these projects.

The projects include the development of passenger terminals, aircraft aprons, flight management facilities, and petroleum depots. They are set to be launched in line with the implementation progress of a CAAV-funded project on runway and taxiway upgrades at the airport.

In addition, feasibility and progress reports on implementation adjustments are to be prioritized at the soonest.

The ministry agreed with the AVC’s proposal on the scale of construction in phase 1. The projects will enable the airport to host 1 million passengers annually, which may increase to 2 million.

Despite the impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic, Con Dao airport served 447,750 passengers in 2020, up 4.1 percent from 2019.

In the adjusted airport planning by 2030 approved by Minister of Transport Nguyen Van The, the airport is to have a capacity of 2 million passengers and 4,400 tonnes of cargo per year./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

July 22, 2022

NA Chairman hosts JBIC leader

Chairman of the National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue hosted a reception for the visiting Governor of Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), Maeda Tadashi, in Hanoi on July 22 during which the Vietnamese top legislator spoke highly of his guest’s recommendations for Vietnam in energy transition.

Welcoming the JBIC leader, Hue said the NA supports the Vietnam-Japan strategic partnership to grow strongly in a comprehensive and substantive manner. Vietnam and Japan have a lot to supplement each other, given that both countries are signatories to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Cooperation (RCEP).

Maeda said his bank plays a key role in providing credit and funding for Japan’s international cooperation projects. JBIC has been pushing for Japan’s initiative on developing an “Asian zero-emissions community” and Japan Energy Transition Initiative, he noted.

He then put forward several recommendations to help Vietnam realise its commitment of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 at the 26th UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) last year.

Expressing his thanks for Maeda’s recommendations, Hue said the world is facing many uncertainties and suffering heavy toll caused by COVID-19, which not only challenge the recovery process but also affect the realisation of Vietnam’s COP26 commitment.

According to Hue, achieving net zero emissions by 2050 is a challenge for Vietnam. He held that however, with its self-reliance and cooperation from foreign partners, including Japan, Vietnam will accomplish the goal.

He hoped that JBIC and other development partners will support Vietnam in improving its regulatory framework and institutions for sustainable development, particularly with regard to climate change adaption and energy transition.

The Vietnamese NA is revising the Law on Oil and Gas and the Law on Electricity as well as various master plans and key policies of the nation, he noted.

Vietnam looks forward to receiving JBIC’s technical consultation in developing the most feasible strategy and roadmap for the energy transition, he said, adding that Vietnam wants JBIC to help access funding for its green energy and energy transition projects that come with affordable interest rates.

He is confident that Japan will continue to be Vietnam’s important and trustworthy partner in fulfilling goals in climate change adaption and energy transition, and COP26 commitments./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency