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Toku Closes USD 5 Million Series A Extension and Appoints Former Singapore Minister Lim Hwee Hua as Advisory Board Chair

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Investment to Drive AI-Powered Innovation, Strategic Expansion, and Governance Leadership

SINGAPORE, Nov. 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Toku, Asia-Pacific’s leading provider of enterprise cloud communications and customer experience solutions, announced today the successful completion of a USD 5 million Series A Extension round led by Betatron Venture Group. The funding, which included participation from the Hong Kong Innovation and Technology Venture Fund (ITVF) and other investors, brings Toku’s total funding to USD 18 million since the launch of its operations in April 2018. This latest capital infusion will fuel Toku’s continued international expansion and advance its proprietary AI-powered solutions in customer engagement.

In addition to this funding milestone, Toku has established an Advisory Board to guide its strategic growth, with Mrs Lim Hwee Hua appointed as Chair. This move underscores Toku’s commitment to strong governance and strategic insight as it scales its operations.

Strategic Leadership Addition: Lim Hwee Hua as Advisory Board Chair

Lim, former Singapore Minister and experienced executive in both the public and private sectors, brings unparalleled expertise in governance, finance, and strategy to Toku. Her distinguished career includes several important positions in Parliament and ministerial roles after being elected to the Parliament of Singapore in 1996. It provides her with a profound understanding of economic policy and regulatory affairs. In the private sector, Lim held leadership roles such as Managing Director at Temasek Holdings, where she led strategic restructuring and partnerships. She currently serves on several corporate boards and remains active in private equity.

“We are honoured to have Mrs Lim join us as Chair of our Advisory Board,” said Thomas Laboulle, Founder and CEO of Toku. “Her leadership, depth of experience, and proven strategic vision will be invaluable as we navigate this next stage of growth. Her appointment aligns perfectly with our mission to bring high-impact solutions to the market while establishing Toku as a leader in customer experience technology.”

Reflecting on her new role, Lim expressed her enthusiasm for contributing to Toku’s ambitious journey. “I am extremely pleased to be able to assist Toku in making further inroads into regional markets and across different sectors. I look forward to adding my experience to help shape the business strategy and enhance the range of enterprise cloud and customer experience solutions.”

Advancing AI Solutions for a Transformative Customer Experience

The recent funding will support the ongoing development of Toku’s AI Chat and AI Voice Agent technologies, designed to deliver enhanced customer interactions across multiple languages and regional dialects. Toku’s proprietary solutions are especially valuable in markets with rich linguistic and cultural diversity, making them ideally suited not only for Asia-Pacific but also for other regions such as South America and Europe.

“Our focus is on creating AI solutions that excel in handling complex language and voice interactions, particularly in environments where mainstream providers often fall short,” said Laboulle. “With this latest investment and Mrs Lim’s guidance, we are well-positioned to bring innovative and adaptable solutions to businesses globally.”

Achieving Profitability and Driving Global Expansion

Toku is targeting revenue above USD 30 million for 2024 and remains on track to reach net profitability. With this latest funding, Toku is set to solidify its presence in APAC, especially through its expansion in Hong Kong, while unlocking opportunities in new regions such as South America and Europe.

By focusing on revenue growth, cost efficiency, and targeted market entry, Toku anticipates becoming cash flow positive in 2025, as it scales to meet increasing demand across these diverse markets. 

“Our investment strategy is centred on identifying and scaling-up B2B tech champions in Asia’s rapidly growing markets,” said Matthias Knobloch, Managing Partner and CEO of Betatron Venture Group. “Toku has demonstrated its potential to lead in customer experience technology, and we are excited to champion their innovation and expansion efforts as they establish themselves as a global player.”

Access additional resources in our press kit.

About Toku

Headquartered in Singapore, Toku empowers enterprises to elevate customer experiences with innovative, cloud-based communications and engagement solutions. Leveraging its expertise in the APAC region and an expanding global reach, Toku’s platform features an Integrated Contact Centre, Programmable APIs, and Generative AI capabilities, including transcription, summarisation, conversation analytics, and virtual agents. Designed to integrate seamlessly with customer data and business processes, Toku’s solutions streamline interactions and drive scalable growth. Trusted by leading brands, Toku helps organisations achieve optimised outcomes and deepen customer relationships.

For more information, visit www.toku.co.

About Betatron Venture Group

Betatron Venture Group is an exit-focused venture capital fund investing in early-stage technology companies from Hong Kong and Singapore. The fund focuses on digitising Asia’s largest industries: manufacturing, logistics, construction, finance, trade, and communications.

For more information, visit: www.betatron.co.

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SOURCE Toku

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CellPoint Digital Secures $30 Million Funding Round to Accelerate Modern Airline Retailing Transformation

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Latest funding round supports launch of innovative Offer Order Settle Delivery (OOSD) platform and global expansion

LONDON, Nov. 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — CellPoint Digital, the leading provider of payment solutions to the airline and travel industries and a global pioneer of Payment Orchestration, has secured $30 million in funding from Toscafund and Penta Capital. This latest investment will accelerate the launch of CellPoint Digital’s revolutionary Offer Order Service Delivery (OOSD) payment orchestration platform, purpose-built to power the Travel industry’s transformation toward modern airline retailing.

This latest funding round highlights the growing demand for advanced payment expertise and payment orchestration solutions in the global travel industry, where CellPoint Digital stands as the market leader. The company’s position in the dynamic air travel, hospitality, cruise, OTA, and tour operator sectors is reinforced by its partnerships with prominent brands, including Virgin Atlantic, Southwest, Sabre, Cebu Pacific, avianca and most recently, Riyadh Air, VoePass and La Compagnie.

Investment Fuels Global Expansion and Revenue Growth

With this round of funding, CellPoint Digital will accelerate its global expansion to meet the increasing worldwide demand for its services. The investment will enable the company to intensify its focus on optimising payment and money movement services for its clients whilst expanding its Alternative Payment Method (APM) hub to service the growing needs of its partners. This expansion will support CellPoint Digital in delivering on its already won contracts, including the recently announced partnership with Riyadh Air, and fulfilling its growing partnership with Sabre.

“As our company has grown rapidly in the last few years, we have delivered our industry-first payment orchestration solution to more travel brands worldwide, supporting them in optimising payment processes, driving profitability, and improving their customers’ experience,” said Kristian Gjerding, CEO of CellPoint Digital. “This latest investment from our valued partners at Toscafund and Penta Capital not only acknowledges our growth and the ongoing strong demand for our solutions in the travel industry but also paves the way for more global expansion and success within the market, positioning the company for long-term scalability.”

Leading Payments Technology for the Travel Ecosystem 

CellPoint Digital’s payment orchestration solution helps travel brands increase top-line revenue by improving authorisation rates and providing a frictionless payment experience in the booking path, presenting customers with the payment methods they want to use, no matter where they are in the world. The platform also allows merchants to adopt a multi-acquirer payments model that opens up new growth opportunities, uses intelligent routing to minimise transaction costs (especially on cross-border transactions), and provides control and transparency across all payment processes.

“CellPoint Digital has continually solidified its leading market position and demonstrated its ability to expand aggressively and responsibly,” says Steven Scott, Founding Partner of Penta Capital. “As we forecast demand for CellPoint Digital’s solutions to continue across the global travel sector, we are confident that this investment will represent another compelling growth opportunity.”

Payment Solutions Optimised for Offer/Order Travel Retailing

CellPoint Digital’s new OOSD platform represents a significant advancement in airline commerce capabilities, enabling:

Seamless transition from legacy PSS to modern Offer and Order architecturePayment-driven offer creation and management across all channelsUnified payment orchestration supporting diverse payment methodsReal-time order management and fulfilmentData-driven personalisation at scale

To meet the evolving needs of the travel industry, CellPoint Digital continues to enhance its offer and order retailing capabilities, operating in a travel landscape increasingly defined by new distribution capability (NDC). This innovative approach, embodied in the OOSD platform, has been crucial in securing partnerships with forward-thinking airlines like Riyadh Air and Southwest Airlines, positioning CellPoint Digital at the forefront of next-generation travel solutions.

About CellPoint Digital
CellPoint Digital is a fintech leader whose main solution is a Payment Orchestration Platform which optimises digital payment transactions from cards and enables new payment options. Merchants can scale their own payment ecosystem across the world, optimise the routing of each transaction, increase conversion rates and minimise payment costs. CellPoint Digital has offices in Copenhagen, Dallas, Dubai, London, Miami, Pune and Singapore. Learn more at www.cellpointdigital.com

About Toscafund Asset Management LLP
Toscafund Asset Management LLP, founded in 2000 by Martin Hughes, is a specialist investment manager with a circa $4.5bn AUM. Specialist areas of investment include listed equities in the financials and payments sectors, growth capital for private companies, UK commercial property and bespoke private equity deals. Toscafund has offices in London, Manchester, Melbourne, New York and Hong Kong.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/cellpoint-digital-secures-30-million-funding-round-to-accelerate-modern-airline-retailing-transformation-302312485.html

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Rediscovered Emily Carr and Masterpiece Tom Thomsons Make History at Heffel’s Fall Auction

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Record-breaking results at Heffel’s fall auction, surpassing $22M in total salesEmily Carr $50 barn find shatters presale expectations and sells for $349,000Outstanding results for Tom Thomson masterworks, with two major examples each surpassing $2M

TORONTO, Nov. 21, 2024 /CNW/ – Heffel Fine Art Auction House celebrated a landmark evening at its historic fall auction, achieving a remarkable total of $22.7 million and setting multiple records across all areas of the market. Tom Thomson stole the show, with two major works from the Collection of Torben V. Kristiansen surpassing $2 million each, cementing his place as a cornerstone of Canadian art. All eyes were also on Emily Carr’s Masset, Q.C.I., the rediscovered barn find that captivated the art world and far exceeded expectations. The auction underscored the strength and vibrancy of Canada’s art market, with Heffel leading the way. Held at the firm’s Toronto auction venue, the event connected a global audience through their Digital Saleroom, providing a dynamic platform for collectors to come together and celebrate exceptional art. (All prices are in Canadian dollars and include a buyer’s premium.)

An extraordinary piece of Canadian art history came to light at the Heffel auction with Emily Carr’s Masset Q.C.I., which achieved a final sale price of $349,250 (est. $100,000 – 200,000). The remarkable backstory of the work—hidden away for over a century before being purchased for just $50 USD at a Hamptons barn sale—has captivated the world. Collectors flocked to Heffel’s cross-country previews for a glimpse of the powerful and vivid depiction of a bear totem in Haida Gwaii, exemplifying Carr’s reverence for the Indigenous cultures and landscapes of British Columbia. The sale marks a triumphant homecoming for the painting, which now reclaims its place as an essential chapter in Canada’s cultural history.

Three extraordinary Tom Thomson paintings dominated the auction, collectively totaling nearly $5 million, led by two masterworks from the esteemed Collection of Torben V. Kristiansen. Winter Morning achieved an astounding $2,281,250 (est. $1,000,000 – 1,500,000), while Tamarack Swamp commanded $2,101,250 (est. $1,200,000 – 1,600,000). Earlier in the evening, Thomson’s dazzling Northern Lake more than doubled its expected price and sold for $541,250 (est. $200,000 – 300,000). Due to Thomson’s untimely death, his works are among the rarest and most coveted in Canadian art, and these impressive results exemplify his icon status.

“Tonight’s auction has been truly unforgettable,” said Robert Heffel, Vice President of Heffel Fine Art Auction House. “From the powerful sale of Tom Thomson’s masterpieces to the emotional return of Emily Carr’s Masset Q.C.I., we witnessed the deep connection collectors have with Canadian art. It’s incredibly rewarding to see these exceptional works find their rightful place in the spotlight, commanding the attention and prices they deserve.”

Highlights from the Heffel Fall 2024 Live Auction

A monumental and one-of-a-kind 10-kilogram solid gold coin from the Royal Canadian Mint, featuring the iconic artwork of renowned Haida artist Chief James Hart (7IDANsuu), sold for $1,561,250, setting an auction record for the artist and for any coin ever sold in Canada. A true masterpiece, The Dance Screen (The Scream Too), based on Hart’s massive wooden carving in the collection of the Audain Art Museum, beautifully blends the artist’s Haida culture with numismatic craftsmanship.Frederick Varley’s Bridge Over Lynn shattered the previous auction record for the Group of Seven artist and sold for an exceptional result of $1,321,250. Beloved for its vivid palette and dynamic portrayal of British Columbia’s lush Lynn Valley, this major canvas stands as one of the few remaining Varley canvases in private hands (est. $800,000 – 1,200,000).Candelle, a striking, museum-quality 1959 canvas from Marcelle Ferron‘s most celebrated period, sold for an impressive $841,250, nine times its pre-sale estimate of $125,000 – 175,000. The work exemplifies Ferron’s mastery of colour and form, making it one of the standout pieces of the auction.Kenojuak Ashevak’s iconic The Enchanted Owl achieved a record-breaking $289,250 at the Heffel auction, soaring past its pre-sale estimate. Consigned by the Grand Rapids Art Museum in Michigan, this vibrant and celebrated print holds a cherished place as a national treasure and a masterpiece of Inuit printmaking, having been immortalized on a Canadian postage stamp in 1970 (est. $125,000 – 175,000).A remarkable five artist records were shattered in today’s sale, including standout examples by James Hart, Frederick Varley, Kenojuak Ashevak, W.P. Weston and Bess Harris. Weston’s Howe Sound—Yesterday, Today and Forever, a showstopping 1927 masterpiece once held in the prestigious IBM collection, flew to $241,250 (est. $60,000 – 80,000) and Bess Harris’s absolutely stunning Near Moraine Lake achieved a well-deserved $133,250 (est. $50,000 – 70,000). These incredible results highlight the vibrant demand and soaring market for Canadian art, making this auction one of the most exciting in Heffel’s history.

For more information on the works included in Heffel’s fall live auction, visit www.heffel.com.

Additional works from the Collection of Torben V. Kristiansen are currently on offer through a curated Heffel online auction, closing on November 28, with future auctions to follow.

Heffel is now welcoming consignments for the spring 2025 auction season, encompassing international and Canadian works of art. The deadline for spring consignments is February 2025.

About Heffel Fine Art Auction House
Since 1978, Heffel has connected passionate collectors across the world with outstanding works of art, with sales approaching $1 billion. Heffel is renowned for its expertise in effectively managing and handling estates, serving as trusted experts for navigating the complexities of art collections inherited from estates with precision and care. With facilities in Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, Ottawa and Calgary, Heffel has the most experienced team of fine art specialists in Canada and provides premium client service to both sellers and buyers internationally.

SOURCE Heffel Fine Art Auction House

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J&V Energy enters Philippines utility-scale solar with 180MW acquisition

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MANILA, Philippines, Nov. 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — JNV Philippines Renewable Corporation has entered into an agreement to acquire the entire equity interest in a 180MW ground-mounted solar project located in General Santos, Philippines.

The transaction marks J&V Energy’s first utility-scale renewables investment in the Philippines, and comes on the back of J&V Energy’s joint-venture with SolarNRG Philippines in June to develop and construct rooftop projects for commercial & industrial customers.

J&V Energy has engaged a local partner to complete development of the project, which is expected to participate in the Philippines Government’s 2024-25 Green Energy Auction Program (GEAP) expected to be held in 1Q2025. Under the GEAP program, the project will have the opportunity to sign a 20-year fixed price power purchase agreement with the state-owned National Transmission Corporation.

The project has now completed land consolidation of over 170 hectares, and has obtained a solar energy service contract (SEOC) from the Philippines Department of Energy (DOE). Under the project’s Offer of Service from the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines, the project is expected to provide 295 GWhs of green electricity annually to the Philippines once commissioned in 2027.

Jerome Tan, Group CIO of J&V Energy and President of JNV Philippines, said: “We are delighted to partner with reputable local developers to make our first utility-scale renewables investment in the Philippines. This transaction demonstrates our commitment to the Philippines, and brings J&V Energy closer to our target of commissioning 500MW by 2028. We would like to thank the Philippines Board of Investments (BOI) and Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC) Taipei for facilitating our expansion in the country.”

According to the latest Philippines Energy Plan (PEP), the Philippines is poised to achieve a renewable energy share of over 35% of the total energy mix by 2030, with solar (+17.8GW) and wind (+7.8GW) expected to play a key role in shaping the Philippines’ energy future.

About J&V Energy

Headquartered in Taipei, J&V Energy is a publicly-listed leading circular economy and renewable energy developer with a market capitalization of ~US$1,000m (30 Sep 2024). J&V Energy employs a team of over 350 renewable energy professionals with expertise in solar, wind, energy storage and water infrastructure. Its regional footprint spans across Taiwan, Japan, Philippines and Vietnam. In 2023, J&V Energy secured the #1 spot amongst the Top 100 Fastest Growing Companies by CommonWealth Magazine and is a constituent of the MSCI Global Small Cap Index.

J&V Energy official website
https://global.jv-holding.com

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/jv-energy-enters-philippines-utility-scale-solar-with-180mw-acquisition-302312508.html

SOURCE J&V Energy Technology Co., Ltd.

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