PUNE, India, Sept. 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Persistent Systems (BSE: 533179) (NSE: PERSISTENT), a global pioneer in Digital Engineering and Enterprise Modernization, today announced the intent to acquire Arrka, a Pune-based company renowned for its decade-long data privacy expertise, its pioneering Data Privacy Management platform and growing expertise in AI governance. This strategic acquisition significantly enhances Persistent’s AI-led, platform-driven services and strengthens its ability to provide comprehensive offerings in digital governance, including data privacy, AI governance, and cybersecurity, among others. With Arrka’s expertise, Persistent will help clients accelerate their transformation journeys while ensuring ethical, responsible, and compliant AI.

With the widespread adoption of AI, implementing and managing digital governance in general and data privacy and responsible AI are taking center stage for enterprises across industries. Persistent is addressing the opportunities in AI through strategic investments in innovative platforms like SASVA™, an in-house cutting-edge platform using generative and deterministic AI, as well as through tuck-in acquisitions such as that of Starfish Associates, to strengthen its position in AI-powered Contact Center and Unified Communications. The integration of Arrka is a critical component in scaling Persistent’s AI practice and addressing the rising demand for digital governance. It is a key to the Company’s strategy to deliver responsible, ethical, and comprehensive platform-driven digital solutions.

Arrka’s Data Privacy Management platform enables organizations to manage their data privacy risks and comply with multi-jurisdictional legal and regulatory requirements in an integrated manner. Persistent will integrate and significantly broaden Arrka’s offerings to establish deep capabilities across the digital governance and trust domain, including:

AI Governance and Ethics: Equipping organizations to implement and manage AI risks, ensuring trust and governance across their AI initiatives.Data Privacy: Scaling Arrka’s Data Privacy expertise to help businesses enhance and mature their ability to comply with multiple privacy laws and regulations in a holistic manner.Privacy in AI Product Engineering: Offering privacy-by-design capabilities that help embed ethical and trustworthy practices into AI development, thus ensuring transparent and explainable systems.Consent and Rights Management: Developing tailored solutions for managing user consent, handling data subject rights requests, and ensuring transparency in data processing across multiple platforms and jurisdictions.AI Systems Auditing and Compliance Management: Offering continuous compliance and auditing solutions to ensure comprehensive monitoring of AI systems.

Sandeep Kalra, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director, Persistent: 

“Arrka’s acquisition perfectly aligns with our vision to deliver AI-driven services that fuel innovation and ensure data privacy, ethics, and compliance at every stage. By integrating Arrka’s expertise with our AI-led, platform-driven services strategy, we are empowering businesses to innovate responsibly while managing risk and compliance more effectively. Their mature frameworks and Data Privacy Management platform provide a scalable foundation to ensure this new capability is platform-driven and embeds governance from the outset, which is now critical for successful AI implementations. We’re delighted to welcome Shivangi and her talented team as we strengthen our digital governance and data privacy offerings and shape the future of responsible AI together.”

Shivangi Nadkarni, Co-Founder, Arrka: 

“The acquisition by Persistent catapults Arrka onto the global stage. With the strength and resources of Persistent, we now have the opportunity to go from what has been a specialist, boutique business working with select long-term clients in India, to expanding our footprint into global markets and deepening our expertise rapidly in multiple areas of digital governance. Moreover, this has come at an opportune time, just when this domain is experiencing significant growth globally with the rise of AI. The Arrka team is excited by the opportunities ahead.”

Chirag Mehta, Vice President and Principal Analyst, Constellation Research: 

“As customers accelerate their adoption of AI, the urgency to address data privacy and compliance challenges has never been greater. Persistent’s acquisition of Arrka strengthens its AI-led, platform-first approach, empowering customers to confidently pursue their business goals while tackling these critical security concerns head-on.”

About Persistent

Persistent Systems (BSE & NSE: PERSISTENT) is a global services and solutions company delivering Digital Engineering and Enterprise Modernization to businesses across industries. With over 23,500 employees located in 19 countries, the Company is committed to innovation and client success. Persistent offers a comprehensive suite of services, including AI-enabled software engineering, product development, data and analytics, CX transformation, cloud computing, and intelligent automation. The Company has been recognized as the “Most Promising Company” of the Year by CNBC-TV18 at the 2023 India Business Leader Awards. As a participant of the United Nations Global Compact, Persistent is committed to aligning strategies and operations with universal principles on human rights, labor, environment, and anti-corruption, as well as take actions that advance societal goals.

www.persistent.com

Forward-looking and Cautionary Statements

For risks and uncertainties relating to forward-looking statements, please visit persistent.com/flcs

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SINGAPORE, Sept. 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — The Esteemed Chairman and Standing Director of CPC Corporation, Taiwan, Lee Shun-Chin, has been recognized as a Master Entrepreneur at the Asia Pacific Enterprise Awards (APEA) 2024. The awards ceremony took place at the Grand Hyatt Taipei on 13 September.  

The renowned Asia Pacific Enterprise Awards (APEA) honors exceptional entrepreneurs for their leadership while shining light on enterprises demonstrating corporate excellence. This year, in addition to honoring its chairman, the APEA also recognized CPC Corporation, Taiwan under the Inspirational Brand category for its outstanding achievements and ESG-centric approach.

CPC Corporation, Taiwan has established a strong presence throughout Taiwan and is involved in everything from importing petrochemical materials to supplying finished consumer goods. As it caters to various oil products, the company has implemented a few production and sales models as well as established many offices for effective oversight and governance.

CPC is shifting its focus from traditional energy to sustainable energy. The company aims to produce valuable fuel materials, reduce carbon emissions and fight climate change by introducing strategies that aim to produce valuable petrochemicals, reduce carbon emissions, and use renewable energy. Strategies implemented include improving its refining processes, adding value to chemicals, and carbon capture and reuse. The company also uses its expertise in carbon fiber composite materials to design special space-grade composite.

CPC aims to provide the people of Taiwan with a green, safe, and healthy social environment. It believes that sustainable growth needs balance in the economy, society, and environment. Hence, the company plans to focus on national development, improving its business practices, and promoting green energy to achieve low-carbon development. It aligns with ESG principles to promote “High-value Petrochemical, Low Carbon Emission, Lean-Renewable Energy” in order to realize sustainable development.

The company is dedicated to improving energy efficiency and promoting renewable energy to achieve net zero carbon emissions. With the goal of reducing carbon emissions by 40.6% and 49.5% by 2025 and 2030, 62 measures will be implemented to reduce carbon emissions by 262,000 metric tons, saving 74,000 metric tons of oil equivalent. CPC will also develop geothermal and hydrogen energy and build hydrogen refueling demonstration stations and hydrogen energy transmission and storage facilities to promote clean energy.

Through his “High-value Petrochemical, Low Carbon Emission, Lean-Renewable Energy” transformation strategies, Chairman Lee Shun-Chin’s transformation strategies for CPC Corporation, Taiwan has enabled the organization to build resilience in areas of governance excellence, environmental friendliness, and social prosperity. His admiral leadership skills and vision for the company make him truly deserving of the APEA’s Master Entrepreneur recognition.

PR Newswire is the Official News Release Distribution Partner of Asia Pacific Enterprise Awards 2024.

About Enterprise Asia

Enterprise Asia is a non-governmental organization in pursuit of creating an Asia that is rich in entrepreneurship as an engine towards sustainable and progressive economic and social development within a world of economic equality. Its two pillars of existence are an investment in people and responsible entrepreneurship. Enterprise Asia works with governments, NGOs, and other organizations to promote competitiveness and entrepreneurial development, uplift the economic status of people across Asia, and ensure a legacy of hope, innovation, and courage for future generations. Please visit www.enterpriseasia.org for more information.

About Asia Pacific Enterprise Awards

Launched in 2007, the Asia Pacific Enterprise Awards is the region’s most prestigious award for outstanding entrepreneurship, continuous innovation, and sustainable leadership. The Award provides a platform for companies and governments to recognize entrepreneurial excellence, hence spurring greater innovation, fair business practices, and growth in entrepreneurship. As a regional award, it groups together leading entrepreneurs as a powerful voice for entrepreneurship and serves as a by-invitation-only networking powerhouse. The program has grown to encompass 16 countries/ regions and markets all over Asia. For further information, please visit www.apea.asia.

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SOURCE Enterprise Asia

TORONTO, Sept. 29, 2024 /PRNewswire/ – Payfare Inc. (“Payfare” or the “Company”) (TSX: PAY) (OTCQX: PYFRF), a leading international Earned Wage Access (“EWA”) company powering instant access to earnings and digital banking solutions for workforces, today announced that its Board of Directors has initiated, with the assistance of outside legal and financial advisors, a comprehensive and thorough strategic review process to explore and evaluate a broad range of potential options for the Company to enhance value.

The foundation, funding, and execution of Payfare’s ongoing programs remain secure with a robust pipeline of potential new opportunities in the gig economy and EWA space. To support conversion of these new opportunities and alleviate concentration risk, the Board has decided to initiate a strategic review to accelerate these goals. During this process, Payfare remains focused on executing its current business strategy and will continue to provide industry-leading financial solutions for its clients and cardholders. This review process will assess strategic alternatives that may include, but are not limited to strategic partnerships, strategic investments, accretive acquisitions, a potential sale, merger or other business combination.

In conducting the strategic review, the Company’s Board and management team are committed to acting in the best interests of the Company, its shareholders and its stakeholders. There is no deadline or definitive timetable for the completion of the strategic review and Payfare does not intend to comment further unless the Board has approved a specific transaction or otherwise determined that disclosure is necessary or appropriate. There can be no assurances that the strategic review will result in any specific transaction or outcome.

Advisor

The Board has engaged Keefe, Bruyette & Woods Inc. (KBW) as financial advisor to assist with the strategic review process.

Support for DasherDirect Program and Cardholders Through Early 2025

Payfare is proud to have built DasherDirect, an award-winning digital banking solution providing cardholders with free instant pay, cashback rewards, and other meaningful benefits. Since inception, the program has successfully serviced millions of cardholders and processed billions of dollars of transactions. The level of adoption, user reviews, and app store ratings, including its consistent position as the top finance app as ranked by unitQ, demonstrates both the value proposition to cardholders and Payfare’s ability to deliver a best-in-class user experience. Payfare will continue its role as a good partner supporting the DasherDirect program and cardholders through early 2025.

Long-Term Client Renewals with Uber and Lyft Executed in 2024

On July 25, 2024, the Company announced the long-term renewal of its agreement with Lyft Inc. to power the Lyft Direct program. The renewal allows drivers on the Lyft platform to continue benefiting from free instant pay, a feature-rich digital banking product and cashback rewards for years to come. Subsequent to the extension, Payfare also announced new value-added product enhancements to Lyft Direct including Balance Protection, Lyft Direct Savings, and more. Active Lyft Direct users have increased by more than fifty percent year to date, demonstrating the ongoing success of the program.

On March 5, 2024, the Company announced the launch of the Uber Pro Card, a new program with Uber providing free instant payouts after every trip or delivery, enhanced loyalty features for drivers and delivery people, and backup balance for qualifying users on the Uber platform in Canada, powered by Payfare’s leading digital banking app. Active users of the Uber Pro Card have increased by more than five times compared to the legacy program.

Well-Funded to Support Future Growth

Payfare has over $100 million in cash, cash equivalents, and guaranteed investment certificates and is well capitalized to fund ongoing operations and new strategic initiatives. Although the loss of the DasherDirect program will have a substantial impact on the Company’s revenue profile, Payfare intends to right size its operating expenses to align with the near to mid-term reduction in revenues while providing the flexibility to execute on new business and initiatives to build long-term value.

About Payfare (TSX:PAY, OTCQX: PYFRF)

Payfare is a leading, international Earned Wage Access (“EWA”) company powering instant access to earnings through an award-winning digital banking platform for today’s workforce. Payfare partners with leading e-commerce marketplaces, payroll platforms, and employers to provide financial security and inclusion for all workers.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking Information

Information and statements contained in this news release that are not historical facts are “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable securities legislation that involve risks and uncertainties relating, but not limited, to Payfare’s current expectations, intentions, plans, and beliefs. Forward-looking information can often be identified by forward-looking words such as “anticipate”, “believe”, “expect”, “goal”, “plan”, “target”, “intend”, “estimate”, “could”, “should”, “may” and “will” or the negative of these terms or similar words suggesting future outcomes, or other expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions, intentions or statements about future events or performance. Examples of forward-looking information in this news release include, without limitation the strategic review process and timing and length of such process, exploring potential options including strategic partnerships, strategic investments, accretive acquisitions, a potential sale, merger or other business combination, execution of Payfare’s current business strategy and continued provision of industry-leading financial solutions for its clients and cardholders, support for the DasherDirect program and cardholders through early 2025, the impact of the loss of the DasherDirect program to the Company’s revenue profile, intentions to right size operating expenses and impacts to Payfare’s liquidity position, and executing on new opportunities and initiatives. This forward-looking information is based, in part, on assumptions and factors that may change or prove to be incorrect, thus causing actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by forward-looking information.

Security holders, potential security holders and other prospective investors should be aware that these statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those suggested by the forward-looking statements. Such risks include the factors discussed from time to time in Payfare’s filings with the Canadian Securities Authorities, copies of which can be found under Payfare’s profile on the SEDAR+ website at www.sedarplus.ca. In addition, there is risk that opportunities identified through the strategic review may take longer than anticipated or may not be a fit or appropriate for the Company or will not be at terms that are acceptable to the Company, and right sizing efforts may not have the intended impacts as expected by management on its liquidity.

Security holders, potential security holders and other prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. By its nature, forward-looking information involves numerous assumptions, inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, that contribute to the possibility that the predictions, forecasts, projections and various future events will not occur. Payfare undertakes no obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking information whether as a result of new information, future events or other such factors which affect this information, except as required by law.

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SOURCE Payfare Inc.